The contract extension with Kier was agreed following the government’s decision not to continue the Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract to maintain Birmingham roads and will allow the council time to procure a longer term arrangement.

Kier has been delivering highway maintenance services across Birmingham since April 2020 and the extension will keep Birmingham's roads, pavements and highway assets safe, functional and well maintained for residents and communities across the city. 

The contract includes highways and footways maintenance, emergency repairs, street lighting, drainage and arboriculture works, winter maintenance services, and traffic management.  

It covers more than 2,500km of road, 5,000km of footways, 846 structures, three tunnels, 94,000 street lighting columns and 76,000 highway trees.  

The agreement, on an interim basis, includes an option to extend for a further nine months until April 2029. 

Cllr Rob Grant, cabinet member for transport at Birmingham City Council, said:

“The state of our roads is a top priority for residents and businesses across the city. If we want to live in safe and welcoming communities, and for the city to function, we need roads and pavements in good condition. 

“We have a huge network of highways used by buses, cyclists, wheelers and pedestrians and people want to see that we are investing in them and looking after them. 

“We take this responsibility seriously and continue to prioritise the safety and reliability of our highways network. 

“I’d like thank Kier for their ongoing support, expertise and commitment in ensuring continuity of service delivery.” 

Ian Davies, general manager at Kier, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the progress we’ve made managing the city’s vast infrastructure and asset network while working to enhance local communities and service-user experience. We look forward to continuing to deliver safe, reliable and efficient highways services while supporting Birmingham City Council. This extension highlights the dedication of our teams and supply chain partners who deliver essential services for the city every day, and our focus will remain on delivering lasting value for the communities we serve.”     

The contract extension will bring certainty for Birmingham’s highways maintenance for the coming two years whilst a long-term contract is secured and put into place. This is required due to the DfT decision earlier this year to cease the long standing PFI contract it had in place with the council.