Two Ulster contractors have clinched a £320m contract to carryout substantial upgrade works on a major Scottish motorway.

John Graham and Northstone and internally active construction and services company Bilfinger Berger have entered into a joint venture to complete the works.

The local firms beat-off Balfour Betty for the job.

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Transport Scotland commissioned the PFI upgrade of the M80 linking Stepps and Haggs, a contract that also secures the maintenance of the road for 30 years.

The proposed scheme is approximately 18km in length.

Construction works for the scheme will include almost 8 km of new dual two-lane motorway and hard shoulders between Stepps and Mollinsburn; 2.7 km of the existing A80 road upgraded to dual three-lane motorway between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns; and almost 7.3km of the existing A80 upgraded to dual two-lane motorway between Auchenkilns to Haggs with hard shoulders and climbing lanes.

The work is scheduled to be completed by 2011.

(PR/JM)