A £16m contract to refurbish and reconstruct 10 platforms as part of the £600m Birmingham Gateway project has been awarded to Balfour Beatty.

The work will be carried out by two of its subsidiaries, Birse Rail and Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, and comprise civil engineering and building works in connection with lifts, escalators and platform finishes on platforms two to 11 at New Street Station.

The contract also includes the extension of the east concourse which will increase the area available for train companies and retail accommodation and allow access to the station façade above for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

This is the second contract to be awarded to Balfour Beatty on the Gateway project, the first being the planned new pedestrian link walkway between New Street and Moor Street stations.

Work commences this month and is due to be completed in September 2013.