A consortium including the Spanish construction group Ferrovial was today in poll position to construct two major road schemes in the North.
The British government named the Amey Lagan Ferrovial Consortium as the preferred bidder for two schemes in Newry and Dungannon, worth more than £250m (€369m).
The contract covers the construction of the A1 Beech Hill to Cloghogue and the A4 Dungannon to Ballygawley dual carriageway schemes.
It also includes the provision of four additional grade separated junctions on the A1 between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland and single carriageway realignment to the A4 at Annaghilla and A5 at Tullyvar.
NIO Roads Minister David Cairns said: “I am pleased that another important milestone has been reached in the procurement of these major improvements to the strategic road network, improvements that will complete the dualling of the main Belfast to Dublin road and will improve the accessibility of Fermanagh and Tyrone.
“The schemes will deliver reduced congestion, better journey times and improved safety.”