IT may not be a superhighway, but it's about to get a Super Agent.

Britain's first stretch of motorway, the Preston Bypass, is to become the responsibility of Lancashire County Council today (Thursday), one of 24 'Super Agents' appointed nationally to keep motorways maintained.

The bypass, which opened 40 years ago, is among the 300 miles of motorways and trunk roads in Lancashire which will be managed by the county council under a three-year contract awarded by the Highways Agency.

The 24 Super Agents replace the original 82.

Edmund Nuttall Ltd has won the £10,000,000 contract to carry out maintenance work on behalf of the county council.

It will include routine and winter maintenance, street lighting, traffic signals, horticulture, capital maintenance schemes for roads and bridges, and improvement and safety schemes up to £100,000.

Highways Agency area manager for Lancashire and North Merseyside, Howard Woolley, said: "The appointment of Lancashire County Council Consultancy as our agents to manage the maintenance and repair of the trunk road and motorway network offers better value for money through improved efficiency and economies of scale.

"Edmund Nuttall, the new term maintenance contractor a very experienced and competent organisation which will meet this challenge and work effectively with the Highways Agency to keep traffic moving in all weathers."

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