Connect Plus Services

Connect Plus Services (CPS) is responsible for operating and maintaining the strategic M25 network, including all adjoining trunk and slip roads on behalf of the Design Build Finance & Operate (DBFO) special purpose company, Connect Plus and National Highways.  

Located in the south-east of England, the M25 orbits the UK’s capital city, connecting Greater London and the surrounding communities to a matrix of more than 22 of the UK’s motorways and regional roads. 

It is one of the busiest networks in Europe and is regarded as the UK’s most strategically important road infrastructure system, carrying more than 250,000 vehicles a day. 

Critical to the UK economy, the M25 is the main arterial route for both freight and passengers to five of the UK’s biggest international airports and 2 container seaports and provides connectivity to the wider Strategic Road Network in England and beyond.  

Working in partnership with Balfour Beatty and Egis, AtkinsRéalis brings end-to-end, multidisciplinary engineering and design service excellence to the delivery of the 30-year operation and maintenance contract, spanning 2009 to 2039. 

By combining the collective strengths and expertise of the three global parent companies, Connect Plus Services delivers the best M25 experience for customers, from design and construction through to the 24/7 operation and maintenance of this critical national infrastructure.  

As the operational and maintenance contract enters its final 15 years, AtkinsRéalis has been instrumental in reshaping the structure of the CPS operating model to ensure the M25 network is fit for the future following the end of the 30-year contract in 2039.  

Our skilled engineering consultants implemented a two-year business change programme to transform the organisation with the ambition to be the leading asset management company of choice in the UK. The new operating model, aligned to four work streams, is now being embedded across the organisation and includes:  

Business Planning & Performance 

The Business Planning & Performance team, overseen by AtkinsRéalis drives the long-term direction of the CPS contract, tracking performance to ensure continuous improvement of customer experience and stakeholder expectation. 

The team has developed the strategy for the next 15 years, manages the collection, analysis and reporting of data and digital intelligence gathered on the network for National Highways, manages the communication and stakeholder engagement and the quality assurance, performance and governance of the business. 

Asset and network planning  

The asset management team comprises 100 AtkinsRéalis asset managers, engineers and data analysts who are responsible for the planning and investment strategies for asset delivery and network operations, including managing the data and analytics to assist the operational performance of the CPS network. 

This includes 440km of Strategic Road Network (SRN), 2,500 structures including bridges, culverts and overhead gantries, plus 140,000 other assets such as lighting columns and barriers. Additionally, the M25 network includes 5 tunnels, comprising east and west tunnels at Dartford and the QE2 bridge, all of which are deemed critical national infrastructure and essential to the continued growth of the UK’s economy.  

Asset delivery  

The Asset Delivery team is largely formed of Balfour Beatty employees, supported by key AtkinsRéalis project managers, design engineers and highway inspectors. This team is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the network, delivery of the works including inspections, routine maintenance and project delivery to ensure the safety, reliability and longevity of all assets on the M25 network.   

Network operations  

The beating heart of the CPS operation, the Network Operations team manages the day-to-day operation of the network, and is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year to manage emergency response situations. This includes the facilities management functions, security, road space management and operation of control rooms, to ensure safe, seamless journeys across the M25 network for customers. 

CPS carries out routine maintenance, winter maintenance, as well as managing the whole-life requirement of the asset. In managing the operation of the network, CPS is continually identifying ways of reducing delays and improving journey time reliability, to deliver the best Customer experience for the road user. 

AtkinsRéalis has been supporting the enhancement of cyber security to safeguard sensitive business data as well as minimising risk to the operational systems, assets and network from malicious attacks, data theft or malware. Investment in upskilling the workforce to identify potential threats is a significant area of focus as the operation of the SRN shifts towards a data-driven, cloud-based service.  

AtkinsRéalis also advises on the environment and sustainability of services delivered under the M25 contract, implementing whole-life strategies that take a long-term view to protect and improve the environmental performance of the network.  

This includes a commitment to reducing carbon, improving air and water quality, minimising waste and ensuring no net loss of biodiversity on the project roads.