WOLVERHAMPTON – A cohort of sixteen premier civil engineering and construction firms have successfully secured coveted spots on the brand-new, vastly expanded £150m Black Country Highways Framework. Procured and managed by the City of Wolverhampton Council acting on behalf of Black Country Transport, this comprehensive multi-year agreement represents a staggering tripling in value compared to the previous £50m minor works framework it replaces, expanding the supplier pool from 11 firms to 16 to meet soaring infrastructure demand.

The highly flexible framework is meticulously divided across four distinct lots to address everything from minor localized adjustments up to high-value, complex structural highway upgrades. Under the flagship Lot 4 tier, which handles the largest individual projects valued between £5m and £10m, four elite contractors have been selected to compete for an estimated £75m pipeline of top-tier works. These firms are Amey—which successfully secured the top-ranking position on the panel—McPhillips, Fitzgerald Contractors, and CR Reynolds. Moving down the value chain, the second-tier lot (£750,000 to £5m) introduces further expertise, positioning firms like AE Yates, Bridge Construction, Montel Civil Engineering, and Octavius Infrastructure alongside the top-tier winners.

The administrative scope of this framework is uniquely inclusive, enabling a vast network of local authorities—including Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, and Walsall councils, alongside Wolverhampton Homes and the West Midlands Combined Authority—to seamlessly draw down services. Over its operational life running until July 2029 (with an optional extension to 2030), contractors will execute comprehensive works spanning full carriageway and footway construction, advanced drainage installations, modern traffic signalling, pedestrian crossings, energy-efficient street lighting, and park-and-ride facilities. Specialized engineering feats like subway infilling, structural demolition, and sustainable landscaping are also embedded, guaranteeing a modernized, highly efficient highway network that will keep the West Midlands’ booming commercial economy moving fluidly.