Re Contract

Balfour Beatty PLC
26 July 2001


                            BALFOUR BEATTY AWARDED

          A120 STANSTED TO BRAINTREE CONTRACT VALUED AT £75 MILLION



Balfour Beatty plc, the international engineering, construction and services
group, announces today that its large multi-disciplinary projects business,
Balfour Beatty Major Projects, has been awarded the A120 Stansted to Braintree
project, under a £75 million design and build contract for Essex County
Council.

The new road will connect Stansted Airport with the existing Braintree By-pass
and improve access to the airport from the east by replacing the heavily
congested single carriageway with a new dual two-lane road.

The 24km scheme is to be completed within a 30-month period and involves 1.5
million cubic metres of earthworks, a composite pavement and 29 individual
structures, including two river bridges.

Essex County Council is keen to embrace the spirit of partnering and to
promote a collaborative approach between all parties. This is an approach
Balfour Beatty fully endorse, together with its designer, WS Atkins.

Commenting on the award, Balfour Beatty plc's Chief Executive, Mike Welton,
said: 'We are delighted to have been selected to design and build this major
road scheme, which is strategically important to the County of Essex.'

Enquiries to:-

Tim Sharp

Tel: [phone]

www.balfourbeatty.com