The design, engineering and project management consultancy Atkins has been awarded a four-year contract to support the National Roads Authority (NRA) in the management of the motorway network in Ireland. The Motorway Contracts Audit and Administration Services (MCAAS) contract is a commission comprising the provision of a core team of nine people based at strategic locations around Ireland engaged in audit and administration functions. Specialist road maintenance, design and site supervisory staff will be provided to assist the core team. The team will provide support to the NRA across the whole motorway network including the existing public-private partnership (PPP) contracts and the newly established motorway maintenance and renewal contracts. Tom O’Malley, managing director at Atkins, commented that the contract was a significant win for Atkins. “It’s a fantastic acknowledgement of our highways, transportation and asset-management expertise,” he said. “Atkins is well placed to deliver this project not just because of our technical excellence and expertise in the area of road maintenance, but also due to our strength in depth which provides the stability and reassurance that our client needs for this major, long-term contract.” Tony Mortimer, Atkins’ director of highways and transportation in Ireland, commended the NRA for its “vision and determination” in bringing this project about. “The NRA has really moved forward in the area of road maintenance and has made significant steps towards protecting the national motorway asset,” he added. Atkins will be providing supervision, monitoring, audit and other technical and advisory services in relation to the MMaRC contracts, the PPP contracts that are in their operational stage, other contracts relating to network operations and related advice and consulting support. The services will include: safety, quality, financial accountability, administration, consulting engineering and site supervision. Atkins employs some 17,800 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. In Ireland, Atkins has offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast.