The works required under this contract involve the design and construction of improvement works along approximately 25.2km of the A1 dual carriageway between Loughbrickland and the Hillsborough Roundabout. This will be a Design and Build contract, and as such the applicant will be required to manage the design and the construction processes for all permanent and temporary works associated with the Contract. The proposed scheme will include, but is not limited to, the following main elements: (i) Construction of 4 Compact Grade Separated Junctions (CGSJ), (ii) Construction of a new northbound on-slip from the Castlewellan Road (Banbridge) onto the A1, (iii) Construction of a link road connecting the Milebush Road to the Hillsborough Road CGSJ, Dromore, (iv) Closure of all gaps within the central reserve, (v) Installation of a continuous rigid central reserve safety barrier the full 25.2km length of the scheme, (vi) Closure of 9 selected side roads and approximately 50 private accesses on the mainline, (vii) Conversion of 21 No. existing minor road junctions onto the A1 to Left-IN/Left-Out (LILO) configurations, (viii) Installation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) including Variable Message Signs (VMS), Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), and (ix) Accommodation works including accesses, laneways, fencing, planting, drainage, utility alterations, etc.