CH2M has walked away from a contract to act as delivery partner for the multi-billion-dollar next phase of the U.K.'s high-speed rail system. San Francisco based Bechtel Inc., runner up in the bidding, will now negotiate for the contract with project owner HS2 Ltd.
Named preferred bidder for a contract to help steer development of HS2 phase 2b from Birmingham, England to Leeds and Manchester in February, CH2M formally quit on March 29. "Protracted delays and ongoing speculation risk further delays to this critical national infrastructure," the company said in a statement.