WIRRAL’S roads are to be maintained by the company that built the Mersey Tunnels.

The council's highway services deal with BAM Nuttall replaces the existing contract with Colas which ends in March and is valued at between £30m and £33m.

Councillor Harry Smith, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We are looking forward to working with BAM Nuttall in delivering highway services in Wirral which are important to our residents and businesses and support the continued growth in Wirral’s economy.

“The council is undergoing wholesale transformation in the way it carries out its responsibilities and BAM Nuttall will work with us on our main roads and local streets to make those changes a success.”

The contract is one of the first in the country to be procured using the new national Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme, which is specifically intended for local council roads, rather than larger roads such as motorways.

BAM Nuttall has a long history of working in the area, having been Cheshire County Council’s long-term highways contractor between 2004 and 2012.

They have a highways base at Winsford and offices in Northwich.

The original company, Edmund Nuttall & Co, built the Liver Building in 1908 and carried out most of the construction work for the Queensway Mersey Tunnel from 1925 to 1931 and then – as Edmund Nuttall, Sons and Co Ltd – on the Kingsway Mersey Tunnel from 1967 to 1972.

Matt Stacey, head of highway services for BAM, said: “We are delighted to have secured this collaborative contract with the council and to help support the delivery of a quality service for the residents and businesses of Wirral.”

Councillor Smith added: “Our new contractor will work closely with highways officers and the current contractor to ensure a smooth handover of operations and programmes of work from April 1 this year.

“I would stress that the contact arrangements for anyone wishing to report a highway defect or street lighting fault remain unchanged."

 He urged anyone wishing to report a fault to contact  Streetscene through the council’s website or by telephoning 0151 606 2004.