Kier, Graham and Sisk have secured a new six-year framework to rebuild England’s ageing concrete motorway and trunk road network.

National Highways’ near £1bn Legacy Concrete Roads Reconstruction framework will run from 2026 to 2032, spanning RIS3 and the start of RIS4, and will drive a major rebuild of England’s

So-called “legacy” concrete roads – largely built in the 1960s and 1970s – are concentrated along the eastern side of England, including East Anglia, the North East, Yorkshire and the South East.

National Highways has identified around 400 miles of its Strategic Road Network – roughly 4% – as concrete carriageway. These sections are among the most maintenance-intensive parts of the network.

The new framework marks a decisive shift away from patch repairs towards full reconstruction with modern, quieter surfaces.

The outgoing £400m five-year arrangement focused more heavily on lifecycle extension and repairs. The replacement framework effectively doubles planned spend and prioritises wholesale slab replacement.

Scope covers demolition of existing concrete pavements, full reconstruction, new pavement furniture and markings, and hardened central reserve upgrades.

Contractors will also deliver temporary traffic management, act as principal designer and principal contractor under CDM 2015, and provide carbon capture reporting.

Recovery, recycling and reuse of arisings will form a core part of delivery as National Highways pushes lower-carbon renewals and circular economy practices.

James Birch, managing director for transportation at Kier Infrastructure, said: “Securing a place on the Legacy Concrete Roads Reconstruction framework is testament to the integrated design and build expertise held within our business and we’re pleased to be working with our long-term client, National Highways to deliver these vital works.

“This appointment allows us to play a key role in delivering essential upgrades to England’s legacy concrete road network, improving the safety and resilience of it for end users. We’ll bring innovative solutions, sustainable practices and collaboration to the schemes, while maximising value for our customer and the communities we work in.”

Nick Knorr, head of the National Concrete Roads Programme, said: “By replacing aging concrete roads with modern designs, we’re ensuring smoother, quieter, and more resilient routes for millions of people.

“Building on the success of recent reconstruction schemes, this next phase will be delivered in partnership with our supply chain, helping us bring lasting improvements to communities and businesses across England.”

Under the outgoing framework, Morgan Sindall and Sisk delivered major reconstruction schemes, while VolkerFitzpatrick, Colas, Dyer & Butler and Tarmac handled lifecycle extension works.