NATIONAL Grid Transco has signed contracts with two utility engineering companies to carry out work on gas mains renewal projects across the North West over the next three years.

The contracts, worth £42.5m to Willow Construction Services and £48.8m to TJ Brent Ltd will see the two companies focus on replacing metallic gas mains with plastic ones.

In the first year, Willow will renew 67 kilometres of main and TJ Brent will renew 58 kilometres. In addition to this, both companies will support NGTs gas operations standby arrangements, provide emergency support and carry out reinstatement work and domestic gas connections.

The announcement of these two term contracts follows the recent announcement of the NGT alliance partnership covering Greater Manchester. NGT will work with Balfour Beatty plc to renew gas mains across Greater Manchester over the next eight years. Willow and TJ Brent will carry out work largely outside the Greater Manchester area covered by the alliance contract.

There is provision for the three-year contracts with Willow and TJ Brent to be extended for a further two years.