NZTA has awarded a $79 million, seven-year contract for maintenance of Bay of Plenty area state highways to a partnership led by Higgins.

The Network Operations Contract covers both the Rotorua and Eastern bay subregions and is designed to deliver improved road maintenance efficiencies and reduced costs.

NZTA has traditionally contracted multiple consultants and agencies for delivering maintenance works on the state highway network. Now, a single contractor will handle operations in Rotorua, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau districts.

According to NZTA, Higgins has formed a partnership with Beca, and local Bay of Plenty contractors Waiotahi, Combined Roads and Traffic (CRTS), and Avalon Industrial services to deliver the new contract.

The performance-based contract will take effect on 1 July 2014.