Forth Replacement Crossing tender process commences

The process of identifying the contractor who will build the landmark Forth Replacement Crossing is now under way.

The contract notice has been submitted for publication by Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government agency in charge of the scheme.

The news that the single biggest transport infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation, which is due to open to traffic in 2016, is now ready to go to the marketplace will be another boost to the hard-pressed construction industry.

The £1.7bn - £2.3bn project forms the biggest single element of a huge programme of investment by the Scottish Government in Scotland’s road and rail networks which will promote both sustainable economic growth in the future and support hundreds of construction jobs over the next decade.

Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

"I am delighted that the Forth Replacement Crossing project continues to make progress towards delivery as demanded by the people of Scotland. The need to protect and improve the capacity for cross-Forth travel is beyond doubt and the Scottish Government is absolutely clear that sustainable economic growth must be promoted in these difficult financial times.

"We have also been clear that the Forth Replacement Crossing will be funded directly by the Scottish Government from existing capital budgets. Against the backdrop of the global economic downturn, we are driving forward the largest transport investment programme Scotland has ever seen with a number of vital projects, of which the FRC is the biggest.

"I am looking to the construction industry to be enthusiastic about the chance to bid to build a project which is not only vital for the economy and communities of Scotland but also one which will join the existing two iconic Forth bridges as part of an internationally recognised landmark."

The contract is expected to be priced between £900m and £1.2bn and includes detailed design and construction of the main crossing and road connections.
This will include:

A motorway standard two lane carriageway with hard shoulders, spanning approximately 2.7km in length, comprising a cable-stayed bridge with three "mono-towers", two central spans of approximately 650 metres each and approach viaducts

Trunk road connections north and south of the bridge, including approximately 5.5km of new or improved two or three-lane motorway standard carriageways with hard shoulders and two flyover junctions

An Intelligent Transport System (ITS) including gantry displays to inform drivers of new variable speed limits.

It is anticipated that the tender documents will be issued to the selected bidders by the end of 2009 and the contract awarded in spring 2011.

The start of the procurement process follows an Industry Day held in Edinburgh in March, where world class contractors from the UK and abroad attended to discuss and give feedback on the scheme. This dialogue has been crucial in shaping Transport Scotland’s procurement strategy for the project.

The Scottish Government will seek approval for the project through a Parliamentary Bill, which is expected to be introduced to Parliament at the end of this year.