Our long-term collaboration with Autolink and its partners is helping keep the A19 network safe, resilient, and future-ready. Here’s how.
In 1996, Autolink Concessionaires (A19) Ltd was awarded a 30-year DBFO (Design, Build, Finance and Operate) contract to manage the A19 Trunk Road in the North East of England.
The DBFO network includes the A19 and A168 Trunk Roads from Dishforth in North Yorkshire to the Tyne Tunnel in South Tyneside, as well as parts of the A174, A1053 and A66. Together, these routes form a vital transport corridor for the region.
Our involvement began at the early stages, when we were appointed to assist Autolink with tender preparation. This involved assessing the condition of key assets using inspection data and archive records, predicting renewal timelines and costs, and working closely with them to provide a 30-year maintenance cost estimate and initial programme, which was invaluable in informing the tender process.
Since then, we’ve continued to work alongside Autolink and its project partners as technical advisors, developing and implementing a comprehensive inspection and maintenance strategy to deliver a full asset management service. This includes providing a full design service throughout the project lifecycle, from feasibility to construction.
With the concession set to end in February 2027, we’re now closely engaged with both Autolink and National Highways through collaborative workshops to ensure a smooth handover.
“Optimum treatment at the optimum time”
The A19 DBFO network covers over 120 kilometres of strategic dual carriageway. It comprises 585 lane kilometres of pavement and 217 structures, as well as associated assets including vehicle restraint systems, road lighting, drainage and traffic signs.
Under the DBFO contract, there are specific requirements that Autolink must fulfil both during and at the end of the 30-year concession. Our role has been to work collaboratively with Autolink and its supply chain to ensure that all activities across the network are planned and executed in full compliance with these requirements.
To support this, we jointly developed an asset management strategy designed to keep the highway assets in a “steady state” – or consistently good condition – throughout the contract term.
Aligned with National Highways’ vision for the strategic road network, this strategy focuses on delivering the “optimum treatment at the optimum time”, rather than reactive maintenance. This not only helps improve efficiency but also extends asset lifespan and reduces whole life maintenance costs across the network, whilst mitigating adverse impact on road users.
As part of this work, we developed bespoke asset management databases for pavements and structures, supporting the project team in assessing, prioritising and planning maintenance and renewal activities more effectively.
Ensuring a smooth transition to National Highways
As the technical lead for the A19 DBFO handback process, we have assisted Autolink and led ongoing discussions with National Highways and their technical advisors throughout the latter stages of the contract on all aspects of DBFO handback.
Autolink has since become a leader in the handback process within the DBFO community, reflecting the strong coordination across the project team. This community covers eight regions across the UK and is responsible for managing 10 per cent of the country’s Strategic Road Network.
Collaboration at the core
Given the complexity and scale of the DBFO, collaboration has been fundamental to its successful operation. Our team – which is independently certified to ISO 44001 for collaborative working – has fostered a strong working relationship with Autolink, National Highways, Sir Robert McAlpine and other key project stakeholders.
We have also built excellent relations with other stakeholders such as National Highways’ Specialist Engineering Services (SES) experts, emergency services and the local highway authorities across the network.
Plus, by engaging with supply chain contractors through Early Contractor Involvement, and project stakeholders early in the design process, the team has been able to adopt value-management to deliver safe and buildable designs that reduce risks while ensuring time, budget and quality requirements are met.
The 30-year contract has the added financial benefit of enabling longer-term subcontracts, facilitating lower rates and building trust with subcontractors and suppliers.
In October 2024, the A19 was once again named the ‘best A-road in the country’ by Transport Focus, receiving an 85 per cent satisfaction rating from 9,166 road users.
Tees Viaduct: extending lifespan and reducing carbon emissions
The 1.9-kilometre Tees Viaduct, which spans the River Tees, is the longest structure on the A19 DBFO network. This six-lane dual carriageway bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure, carrying over 100,000 vehicles daily. Because of its exposed location and the details of its construction, the viaduct has been subject to historic corrosion of its reinforced concrete, presenting significant maintenance challenges.
We developed a deterioration model early in the DBFO contract, which allowed Autolink to postpone a high-cost intervention to later in the concession, based upon the condition and rate of deterioration, and provides National Highways with an enhanced residual life.
Our team has designed and supervised several maintenance schemes for the Viaduct. One key intervention was the use of Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) as an alternative to demolishing and replacing supporting concrete piers. This not only extended the Viaduct’s lifespan by 80 years but also reduced CO₂ emissions by 98 per cent compared to demolition. Additionally, significant health and safety benefits were realised by eliminating the need for temporary support of the bridge deck.
Building on this success, ICCP has now been applied to 26 reinforced concrete piers supporting the viaduct’s north section. This has led to industry recognition for the project, including nominations for the 2023 ICE Robert Stephenson Awards and the 2024 National Highways Industry Awards.
Achieving the impossible: 217 inspections in just 6 months
Inspections form the foundation of effective asset management, as they ensure that the assets are safe for use and fit for purpose and allow early identification of potential issues to avoid costly repairs later. While routine inspections monitor ongoing performance, handback inspections are a key DBFO contractual requirement designed to assess the network’s condition as part of the transition process.
During the 6-month period between November 2021 and May 2022, the team successfully delivered the contractual handback inspections which comprised 217 Principal Bridge Inspections across the A19 DBFO network. This ambitious programme, completed in just six months, was widely regarded within the DBFO community as a near-impossible task.
The structures inspections were supplemented by pavement assessments such as SCRIM (to measure skid resistance) and Deflectograph (to assess structural condition) and provided a detailed understanding of the network’s condition.
The successful delivery of these inspections – completed on time and within budget – culminated in the submission of Autolink’s Handback Report to National Highways and laid the groundwork for the final stages of the DBFO contract.
Creating social value through local employment
The A19 DBFO project has generated significant social value by prioritising local employment and supporting the regional economy.
A large proportion of the team comes from the surrounding areas, ensuring that the project directly benefits the communities it serves. By investing in local talent, the project has created opportunities for skill development and career growth, contributing to long-term economic resilience in the region.
A model of excellence in asset management
The success of the A19 DBFO project is a testament to the strong collaboration, established at the start of the contract, between Autolink and its project partners, in which AECOM has played a key role. Together, we have consistently met all DBFO contract requirements to date and reduced handback liabilities from £174 million to £30 million.
Additionally, the A19 has consistently performed well in national user surveys. In October 2024, the A19 was once again named the ‘best A-road in the country’ by Transport Focus, receiving an 85 per cent satisfaction rating from 9,166 road users. This strong performance continued in 2025, with the A19 ranking second place. Now in its 29th year, the project stands as a prime example of what can be achieved in asset management when teams work together towards shared goals, setting a benchmark for future projects.