The Department for Infrastructure has been criticised over the awarding of £100 million to consultants as part of a three-year contract for road improvements.
The Stormont department has come under fire in recent weeks over its handling of Belfast city centre traffic congestion.
Minister John O’Dowd has encouraged people to use public transport as a way of alleviating congestion, but critics say bus and rail services in the north are not fit for purpose.
DfI awarded the contract in October to consultancy firms WSP and Amey to deliver “engineering consultancy services” related to Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM) over the next three years, with an option to extend for a further two years.
The total contract award totalled £83m plus 20% VAT, bringing the total to just under £100m.
According to the contract, the scope of the work includes “minor highway improvements, transportation, highway structures, major/large minor works, active travel and the provision of professional and technical staff to assist DfI Tram in-house delivery teams”.
WSP won the £48m lot of the tender for the Eastern and Western Divisions of the programme, while Amey was awarded the £35m lot for the Northern and Southern divisions.
The contract is set to begin in 2025, following a successful “mobilisation phase”.
Directors for both consultancy firms have spoken of their “long-standing relationships” with DfI stretching back over two decades.
Green Party Belfast City councillor Brian Smyth says the contract was the latest example of the department’s “roads first transport policy”.
“From what I see there is no imagination or political will to change mindsets,” Mr Smyth said.
“The department and the minister are ignoring the reality of where we are.
“Our current roads network is not fit for purpose and there is a radical policy shift needed.
“There are some cases where we need engineering solutions, for example on the A5 where lives are being lost.
“But we have never taken public transport seriously here, we spend around £2 per person on active travel here compared to £25 in England.
“Yet we can find another £83m to fund more consultants for roads projects, it’s just another example of our roads first transport policy.”
A spokesperson for DfI said the consultancy services provided by both companies will “support the department to deliver all transport and roads maintenance activities”.
“The department awarded two contracts for Engineering Consultancy Services in October 2024, both of which will commence in January 2025,” a spokesperson said.
“Each contract will provide a wide spectrum of civil engineering consultancy services and associated specialist services for up to five years, with a combined contract ceiling of £83m over their lifetime.
“The services provided by these consultants will support the department to deliver all transport and roads maintenance activities including for road and structures improvements as well as transportation and active travel schemes.”
