Weekly round-up 13 August 2014

Amey's first US highways win, four nuclear stations shut down and world's first $100bn contractor - news this week.

Jackie Whitelaw
12 August 2014

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1. Amey has won its first highways contract in the US. It’s AmeyWebber joint venture has been selected to manage and maintain the highways of Dallas, Texas. The contract, valued at £11M ($19M) is for an initial period of two years and has the potential to be extended for up to four years. 

2. Four nuclear reactors have been shut down to investigate their boiler systems. Two reactors at Heysham, Lancashire and two at Hartlepool, County Durham closed on Tuesday according to EDF. The closure follows discovery of a defect in one of the boilers at Heysham 1 in June.

3. Birmingham City Council is considering congestion charging as part of a range of options to tackle poor air quality from surface transport emissions.  Other options could include the promotion of low emissions vehicles.

4. Balfour Beatty has been awarded the £75M A63 Castle Street Hull improvement scheme for the Highways Agency under an early contractor involvement design and build contract. The 1.5km scheme in the centre of Hull will improve journey times for road users through conversion of a major interchange into a split level junction.

5. Mott MacDonald has appointed Liz King as managing director of its India business leading a team of 1200 people across the transportation, industry, water, environment, education and health setors. 

6. Fracking has public support according to a survey carried out by the research group Populus for UK Onshore Oil and Gas. The poll of 4000 people found that 59% of people would be willing to see natural gas from shale production go ahead as long as it forms part of a mix that includes renewable energy sources, with only 12% disagreeing.

7. According to a new ranking from International Construction the world’s biggest contractor is China State Construction Engineering Co. The state-backed Chinese construction giant which has successfully broken into the Middle East market has become the first contractor to earn revenues of more than $100bn.

8. The Commons Transport Select Committee is seeking submissions for its inquiry into smaller airports. The aim of this inquiry is to examine policy and make recommendations to the Government on the role of smaller airports. The Committee’s objective is to ensure that the role of smaller airports in improving connectivity is recognised within Government. Deadline for submissions is 3 October.

9. Government has announced the Project Leadership Programme, the next phase of the government's approach to improving the skills and capabilities of civil servants who work on important government projects. The Major Projects Authority will manage the programme. Senior leaders who work on the top 200 major projects across government are already eligible to attend the award-winning Major Projects Leadership Academy. The new programme is for those who work on important projects which fall just outside this portfolio.

    

10. Michael Cassidy has been announced as chairman designate of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation. Cassidy is chairman of the City of London Property Investment Board.