WORK begins today (Thursday) to widen the South Mimms junction of the M25 to four lanes, after a �6.2bn contract was won by a private consortium. Yesterday, the Highways Agency awarded the M25 design, build, finance and operate contract to

WORK begins today (Thursday) to widen the South Mimms junction of the M25 to four lanes, after a �6.2bn contract was won by a private consortium.

Yesterday, the Highways Agency awarded the M25 design, build, finance and operate contract to the Connect Plus consortium, which is made up of construction giants Skanska, Balfour Beatty, Atkins and Egis.

Under the terms of the contract, the UK's busiest motorway will be widened to four lanes between Junction 23, South Mimms, and junction 16 for Uxbridge. Preparatory work is expected to begin today.

Work is set to be complete by 2012, shortly before the beginning of the London Olympics.