CONSTRUCTION giant Balfour Beatty said it was on track to make "further good progress" after strong performances in civil engineering, building and rail helped the firm beat profit expectations.

The London-based company pushed up underlying pre-tax profits 13 per cent to £152 million in 2006, beating consensus forecasts of £149 million.

The firm's order book rose 20 per cent to a record £9.1 billion after Balfour Beatty landed major deals including a £363 million project to extend the East London Line late last year.