The Amey, Lagan and Ferrovial Agroman (ALF) consortium achieved Financial Close for the Department for Regional Development Roads Service's DBFO (Design Build Finance Operate) Package 2 contract in December 2007. Amey and Lagan have created a special purpose project company Amey Lagan Roads Limited to deliver the overall DBFO Contract.

The 30-year £250 million project has commenced construction. Within the consortium, the construction work is being undertaken by a Joint Venture between Ferrovial Agroman Ireland and Lagan Construction. Amey are the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contractors for the scheme.

The project forms part of Northern Ireland's £18 billion investment strategy, ‘ Building a Better Future '. The aim of this strategy is to make Northern Ireland a better place to ‘live, work, learn and grow'. Under the scheme, the region's schools, roads, water, waste, health and office infrastructure will all be improved over the next decade.

As part of this development programme, the Northern Ireland Department for Regional Development identified two packages of work to improve the strategic road network across Northern Ireland. These will be delivered as Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

Within the package of works, the consortium will:

• Upgrade the existing A1, which includes the provision of 4 grade separated junctions on the existing dualled section and construction of a new outer by-pass of the existing single carriageway at Newry, between Beech Hill and Cloghogue.
• Provide a new dual carriageway for the A4 from Dungannon to Ballygawley.
• Operate and maintain the entire 125km length of road for the 30-year contract period, including all lifecycle and major maintenance of pavement and structures.