Government denies bypass cash hitch

The Guardian March 15 1996

THE Highways Agency yesterday dismissed press claims that road builders may not bid for the main construction work on the £100 million Newbury bypass because the Government cannot afford to pay for it all at once. An article in Contract Journal today claims Newbury bidders are effectively being told that work done above £18 million will be paid late.

«All the money for the bypass is in place,» a government spokesman said. «We are setting out a new schedule of payments for construction work. It's a matter of housekeeping.»

The deadline for bids is today.

-- John Vidal