The move to close the contracts 18 months early comes as Highways England is rolling out its new regime using its own in-house team to manage delivery after switching from assets support style single contracts where contractors managed their own maintenance regimes and small works.

The agency is hoping to appoint a contractor early in the New Year to take over the areas from March 2017.

Amey secured the five-year asset support contract for Area 6 in August 2013 and the Area 8 in October 2013. But the terms are now being cut-short by mutual agreement.

Highways England signalled plans to take more direct control of its highways maintenance regions over a year ago when bids for several upcoming asset support contracts came back too cheap for the work planned.

The first pilot scheme under this new client-led maintenance regime was secured by Amey in the neighboring Area 7 in the Midlands. This arrangement is unaffected by the proposed changes.

A Highways England spokesperson, said: “We are continuing to work to improve our service to customers and communities in the East of England. This change will allow us to focus on continuing to drive that improvement. We would like to thank Amey for their support in this region and their commitment to managing a smooth transition to our future arrangements.”