Costain has secured a contract to deliver motorway infrastructure supporting the UK’s electric vehicle manufacturing ambitions.
Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been appointed to design and build a new motorway junction on the M5, strengthening regional connectivity and enabling major industrial development. The £100m contract, awarded through National Highways’ Regional Delivery Partnership (RDP) framework, will be delivered over five years.
The project forms a key part of the UK’s digital construction and national infrastructure programme, supporting large-scale manufacturing, data-led design, and integrated delivery models across the highways sector.
Junction 22A enabling the Gravity Smart Campus and gigafactory
Junction 22A will be constructed between Burnham-on-Sea and Bridgwater in Somerset. The new junction will provide direct access to the Gravity Smart Campus and the £4bn Agratas gigafactory, set to become Britain’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility.
The scheme includes north-facing slip roads designed to reduce congestion on the M5 south of the Huntspill River, improving network resilience and traffic flow while supporting economic growth in the South West.
Costain’s role as delivery integration partner
As delivery integration partner and main works contractor, Costain will manage the full lifecycle of the scheme, from design and engineering through programme delivery and supply chain management. Upon completion, the junction will be handed over to National Highways. WSP will support the project as design partner, reinforcing a digitally enabled, collaborative approach.
Alex Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of Costain, said: “This award is built on our long-established highways delivery expertise and trusted partner relationship with National Highways. We will work closely with our supply chain partners to design and deliver this new junction that will provide access to the new gigafactory and help to drive economic growth in this region of the UK.”
He added: “This investment, supporting the UK’s growth ambitions, is another example of Costain’s commitment to deliver critical national infrastructure programmes that improve people’s lives.”
Long-term partnership with National Highways
Costain is a long-term delivery partner to National Highways, having completed 41 emergency areas on the M1 ahead of schedule. The company also provides specialist technical engineering services under the SPaTS3 framework for Roads Investment Strategy 3 (2026–2031) and is delivering the M60/M62/M66 Simister Island Interchange scheme.
The M5 Junction 22A project demonstrates how digitally enabled infrastructure delivery supports industrial growth, national transport resilience, and long-term partnerships shaping the future of UK highways investment.
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