National Road Operators was selected from two consortia at the BAFO Stage, Vinci Investments being the other shortlisted consortium. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded by the end of October 2003 with work commencing in January 2004.

The scheme is located in the heart of the Sirhowy Valley and improves the A4048/A472 strategic highway network between the north of Blackwood and east of Pontllanfraith, as well as providing a direct new access route to the Oakdale Business Park. The scheme consists of a new single carriageway road 3.4 km long with two key cross valley links with associated structures. The total carriageway length is 4.3 km (including the cross valley links).

Completion of the Sirhowy Enterprise Way is crucial to the full development of Oakdale Business Park (formerly Oakdale Colliery). Together with the existing industrial estates, the Oakdale Business Park will result in a concentration of around 12,000 to 15,000 jobs in the heart of Caerphilly County Borough. The project is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s highest priority economic regeneration project and is supported by the Welsh Development Agency.

Roger Webb, the Council’s Director of the Environment, said that he and the Council’s Project Managers and Technical Advisors, Capita Gwent Consultancy, were pleased that a preferred bidder was now in place.