Local Highways Solutions
At Colas, we know that the key to successful outcome-focused delivery is holding quality working relationships with our clients. Achieved through our unique approach to Asset Management which takes a purpose led approach to delivering maximum efficiency, value and an exemplary service for local communities.
Collaboration
We have decades of experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders. In 2019 we launched a new concept in collaborative working called CoLab, where we take a more structured data-driven approach to creating a truly collaborative environment for all key stakeholders on projects and long-term contracts. This facilitates, productivity, effective delivery and the opportunity to maximise innovation and social value opportunities.
Social Value
Leaving a lasting positive legacy in the communities we work within is at the heart of our approach to social value. Our 'The Real Why' approach means our support is tailored to the most disadvantaged local communities ensuring we deliver where it is most needed, creating work opportunities and skills creation.
Innovation
The Colas Group invests significantly in Research & Development each year. Our R&D centre in France is one of the world’s largest private R&D centres for highways in the world and develops exciting new technology as well as innovative new processes. In the UK, we have dedicated innovation teams always seeking ways to improve and develop our products and processes. Watch our CORE video.
We work with you, our customers to define a vision for your future infrastructure requirements and then provide you with innovative, effective and efficient solutions to make them a reality. Colas is a world leader in strategically important and complex infrastructure projects.
Our pioneering and entrepreneurial approach helps you to deliver ambitious and challenging projects and manage your infrastructure assets economically and effectively, optimising their potential.
Award Winning Insitu Recycling Technique
Pioneering the way for new recycling solutions in the UK, Coventry was the first place in the country to utilise the Recycol technique. In collaboration with Coventry City Council, Colas used Recycol, an emulsion-based, cold applied, in-situ recycling process on three residential roads in the city in October 2022.
A total area of 9,500m² was recycled across the three sites, using the technique through a train of linked resurfacing vehicles that move along the road, mixing the planed surface with emulsion and reapplying it to the surface. By employing this emulsion-based technique, considerably higher carbon savings were achieved compared to traditional solutions.
The implementation of the Recycol process in Coventry garnered recognition, winning awards including the International Green Apple Environment Award for its commitment to environmental sustainability and the Department for Transport's Net Zero Project of the Year at the recent LCRIG Awards.
Portsmouth PFI
In 2004 a £500m Highways Management PFI contract was signed between Ensign Highways Limited and Portsmouth City Council for a period of 25 years. Colas Limited were signed as the sub-contractor to carry out the works.
For the period of the contract, Colas teams operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year managing the city’s road network on a day-to-day basis including cyclical maintenance, street cleaning, street lighting and assets.
The project comprises of the rehabilitation of the highways within 5 years, known as the Core Investment Period (CIP), which saw Colas carry out 20 to 30 times the volume of work Portsmouth City Council would have been able to carry out before the contract, followed by a 20-year maintenance period, with specific levels of service set for Colas to maintain Portsmouth’s network.
Supporting Local Heroes
Our collaboration with the Midlands Air Ambulance represents a shared commitment to supporting essential emergency services in our region. This partnership enables us to engage with the community in meaningful ways, fostering efforts that contribute to the wellbeing and safety of those we serve.
Since the start of the Area 9 contract two years ago, we have actively engaged with our community through various initiatives, including the challenging climb to the summit of Ben Nevis, to raise awareness and funds for this vital organisation.
By supporting the organisation, we aim to ensure that lifesaving medical services are accessible to all in our region, ultimately contributing to the overall health and safety of those we serve.
Area 9
In 2022, Colas was awarded the National Highways 8-year Maintenance and Response contract for Area 9, covering a total length of around 3,760km of motorway and trunk roads across the West Midlands region.
Colas delivers cyclical maintenance, reactive maintenance incident response, severe weather response and minor works across this most challenging of the Strategic Road Networks within Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire as well as parts of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
The contract launched in July 2022, and demonstrated straightaway Colas’ commitment to decarbonisation with 100% of the vehicles using alternative fuels, minimising carbon impact from day 1 of the contract and supporting National Highways in their goal of net zero.
Delivering Sustainable Highway Solutions
With over a century of experience in road construction, supported by our dedicated 1,200-member Research and Development team, we have engineered advanced surfaces designed to enhance the durability and reliability of roads.
One of the key, sustainable solutions Colas uses is our microsurfacing process, a cold-applied technique designed to rejuvenate existing pavements. In addition to improving the visual appeal of the surface, this process also considerably enhances slip resistance, fostering safer conditions for pedestrians — especially during rainy weather.
Our experienced technical teams develop emulsions suitable for a range of surface dressing techniques, and our new bitumen terminal - opened in 2024 - gives us security of supply.
Live Labs 2
In 2022, Colas supported three of the seven successful bids awarded funding through the £30m ADEPT Live Labs 2 programme which aims to decarbonise highways.
Working with the lead authorities of Somerset Council, Transport for the West Midlands and Liverpool City Council, Colas facilitated relationships to include academic partners and contributed to the winning bid submissions.
Colas continues to play an active project management role in each of the three, 3-year decarbonisation projects which include a highways materials Centre of Excellence, Net Zero Corridors and the Ecosystem of Things.
