Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure Group, announces today that Gammon Construction Limited, the market-leading infrastructure contractor in Hong Kong, in which Balfour Beatty has a 50% shareholding, has been awarded a HK$2.4 billion (£195 million) contract for the widening of the Tolo and Fanling Highways in Hong Kong for the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Highways Department.

The 40-month contract, due to commence in late February 2010, will involve the widening of a 3.5km long section of the Tolo and Fanling Highways between Ma Wo and Tai Hang. The works will alleviate traffic congestion and meet future demand by widening the existing dual three-lane carriageways to dual four-lane carriageways.

The project scope includes modification or demolition of five existing bridges and the construction of eight vehicular bridges including all associated interchanges and utilities. The contract includes a 12-month maintenance period of the widened road.

Commenting on the contract awards today, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded this contract to enhance Hong Kong’s infrastructure in the North-East New Territories and look forward to delivering a high-quality, safe and environmentally responsible construction service.”

Gammon, in partnership with its customers, is increasingly developing sustainable and responsible solutions to help deliver infrastructure projects. As part of this contract, in addition to standard measures to reduce air, noise and water impacts on the environment, further activities such as recycling of demolition materials to reduce disposal to landfill and deploying the demolished bridge sections to create an artificial reef, will be undertaken.