Welcome for £2.7 billion Highways Investment

10.57.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Jun 2010

"It is great news that extra money has been secured to install new street lights across Birmingham over the next five years," said Councillor Robert Wright.

Local Lib Dems have welcomed news that a £2.7 billion Highways PFI will improve Birmingham's roads and street lights. Councillor Robert Wright said: "It is great news that extra money has been secured to install new street lights across Birmingham over the next five years. Our roads and pavements will also be improved in a rolling programme."

The start of the contract with Amey also marks a substantial boost for the local economy as 300 new jobs will be created over the next year to work on the city's road network. Amey has also committed to tackling unemployment in the city by looking to recruit unemployed local people onto the contract.

Amey, in partnership with Birmingham City Council's Highways service, will be improving and repairing the city's roads and pavements. The contract is for a 25 year period and includes the maintenance of bridges, street lighting and traffic signals as well as the upkeep of street scenery such as safety barriers, seats and trees.

Detailed inspections and surveys of the city's road network, including structures such as bridges and tunnels, will be conducted to help determine the future programme of works and identify priority areas in need of repair. "We want to make sure that the contractors know which roads and street lights we all think are priorities for improvements," said Councillor Wright.