News

Connect Plus and CPS win at the British Construction Industry Awards

We’re thrilled to announce that Connect Plus and CPS were crowned winners at the prestigious British Construction Industry Awards 2024, recognising the impact of Alchera in extending working windows on the M25 network. 

The awards were celebrating their 37th year in a fantastic ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel. The event brought together more than a thousand leading names in the industry to recognise and celebrate hard work and achievements amongst many impressive entries. 

To win in the ‘Digital Initiative of the Year’ category is a tremendous achievement, highlighting the work of everyone involved and the impact of Alchera. 

Alchera combines predicted traffic flows with real-time PayMech charges to allow the team to decide whether it is safe and financially viable to extend working windows to complete more work in a single shift, lowering the total number of closures. 

This will have far reaching benefits, including improved journey experiences for customers and surrounding communities by delivering more efficient, less disruptive maintenance work. 

As described in the judging process: "A great example of end-to-end benefits using real-time AI information and digital tools to drive efficiencies. It was clear that this innovation was having tangible benefits to both staff and customers and could be applied on many different types of infrastructure projects." 

A huge congratulations to everyone involved and to all other winners and finalists. 

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Notes to Editors

About Connect Plus and Connect Plus Services:

  • In 2009, National Highways awarded Connect Plus a 30-year contract to operate and manage the M25 and its key arterial link roads. It continues to be National Highways’ flagship public finance initiative (PFI) and is the largest highways PFI project ever awarded in the UK.
  • Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty and Egis Investment Partners - a unique partnership with a collective strength in highways maintenance and management.
  • Connect Plus Services (CPS), is Connect Plus’ specialist and strategic supply chain partner responsible for operations and maintenance, bringing together the collective strength and expertise of its parent companies, Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Egis.
  • With a workforce of 780 people, based at seven locations around the network, CPS carries out routine maintenance, and whole-life management of thousands of M25 assets. CPS manages the operation of the network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including a severe weather season maintenance programme.
  • For further information please visit: https://www.connectplusm25.co.uk/