Two consortia come forward with proposals to build new Forth bridge

Published on Monday 30 November 2009 15:14

EIGHT companies will be invited to bid for the main contract to build the new Forth Road Bridge, transport chiefs said today.

• An artist's impression of a possible new Forth replacement bridge alongside the current Forth bridge

The construction and specialist engineering companies have consolidated into two consortia which will both tender for the project.

The Forthspan consortium comprises Vinci, Balfour Beatty, Bam Nuttal and Morgan Est, while the Forth Crossing Constructors group comprises Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Morrisons.

They will be invited to submit a final tender by late 2010 and it is anticipated the Forth Replacement Crossing contract will be awarded in spring 2011, with construction expected to begin later that year.

The contract, which is expected to cost between 900 million and 1.2 billion in today's prices, includes detailed design, construction of the main crossing and approaching roads.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson said the issue of the invitation to tender demonstrates that the project remains on schedule.

He said: "The long-term future for the existing Forth Road Bridge remains uncertain and it is vital we act now to preserve cross-Forth travel and ensure sustainable economic growth for communities across Scotland continues in the future.

"We are determined this project should provide a value-for-money solution and we are confident it compares favourably with other similar structures across the world. It will be funded directly by the Scottish Government from existing capital budgets, ensuring best value for the taxpayer."

Both consortia will enter into dialogue with Transport Scotland over the next year to discuss their proposals for the project.

The current bridge is showing signs of deterioration and is not seen as suitable as the long-term main crossing of the Firth of Forth, although work is under way in an effort to halt corrosion on its main cables.

The new bridge will include a two-lane carriageway with hard shoulders, spanning approximately 2.7km in length.

It will be a cable-stayed bridge with three "mono-towers", two central spans of approximately 650 metres each and approach viaducts, as well as trunk road connections north and south of the bridge.

When it opens, the existing bridge will be used only for public transport, as well as motorcycles of less than 50cc, pedestrians and cyclists.

A separate procurement exercise will be undertaken later for two separate, smaller contracts associated with the scheme.