Forth crossing a step closer 21 | 03 | 2011

THE THIRD BRIDGE over the River Forth has moved a step closer to reality after the Scottish Government confirmed its preferred bidder. The Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors Consortium has been chosen ahead of Forthspan, which had also been bidding for the contract, for the design-and-build contract which is valued at £790m.

The announcement follows an 18-month tender period and the new Forth road bridge is due for completion by 2016. Ministers said the condition of the existing bridge, linking Edinburgh and Fife, was deteriorating.

The Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) consortium — which comprises Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Morrison Construction — said it would cost £1.47bn to £1.62bn, a reduction on the project's original estimated cost of £1.7bn to £2.3bn.

"The Forth Replacement Crossing project will be essential in protecting and promoting Scotland's sustainable economic growth, safeguarding a vital link in the country's transport infrastructure, protecting thousands of jobs and securing over £1bn in economic revenue," Finance Secretary John Swinney said today.

"I was therefore delighted to inform parliament this morning that the tender period for the FRC Principal contract has now concluded. The successful FCBC consortium includes world-class bridge building and civil engineering firms with strong records of successfully delivering similar projects throughout the world.

"It is a testament to the robust competition we put in place that it has delivered a bid representing a significant saving for Scotland's capital budget.

"It is particularly pleasing to see that this bid will annually provide 45 vocational training positions, 21 professional body training places and 46 positions for the long term unemployed."

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Jim McGill