Jones Bros celebrates revered industry award for £139m highways project21st Dec 2022

The Balfour Beatty Jones Bros Joint Venture has won an award for its exceptional efforts to protect the environment and ensure sustainability was at the heart of the A487 Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass construction.

The 2022 Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Cymru Wales awards saw the bypass project take home the environmental and sustainability project of the year.

The Balfour Beatty Jones Bros Joint Venture was appointed to carry out the works, with efforts to support the local area in continuing to decrease CO2 levels by preserving the local flora and fauna.

In line with the Environment (Wales) Act, 49 bat and bird boxes were installed, and 27 wildlife passages were introduced. An additional 14 hectares of new native species were also included, such as woodlands, scrub, and hedgerows, as well as approximately 170,000 plants.

In order to create quality growing conditions for trees, meadows were added, using existing vegetation and removing the need for nursery plants.

The project sourced 85 per cent of materials from local suppliers, which reduced the environmental impact within the supply chain and also boosted the local economy.

Hefin Lloyd-Davies, project manager for the bypass, said: “Receiving the award for environmental and sustainability project of the year from such a prestigious industry body was a huge achievement for all involved.

“We are thrilled to be acknowledged for the environmental aspects of the work on the A487 bypass. Protecting the local landscape and wildlife was at the heart of the scheme, as we engaged with experts to ensure ecological habitats were preserved.”

The works carried out by the Balfour Beatty Jones Bros Joint Venture were designed and constructed in line with Wales’ five ways of working and seven wellbeing goals.

CIHT is the top industry voice for highways, transportation, infrastructure, and services profession, as well as the go-to source of advice for national and local government and other stakeholders seeking technical expertise.

Established in the 1950s, Jones Bros owns one of the largest plant fleets in the UK and employs approximately 500 people.

The company is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.

The company runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme, which has produced nearly 50 per cent of its current workforce, with many of its senior managers having started out as apprentices or in a trainee role. It has recruited more than 100 apprentices during the past three years.