Transport Scotland has today (Friday 21 December) announced the preferred bidder for the project consultancy to build the recently announced Forth bridge - a team comprising some of the world’s leading civil engineers.
A joint venture between Arup and Jacobs - and including Flint & Neill Partnership, Dissing & Weitling and EC Harris - is expected to be appointed as the project management team for the project following a mandatory 'standstill' period.
The contract is expected to be worth around £100m over the life of the project and represents one of the biggest transport consultancy contracts ever let in Scotland.
The team includes world-renowned engineering professionals who have been responsible for landmark projects including the Øresund crossing in Scandinavia, Stonecutters Bridge in Hong Kong, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Bridge and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.
A core team will be located in Transport Scotland’s Glasgow headquarters alongside the agency’s own major infrastructure project team.
The consultants team will be led by Alan Seywright of Jacobs. Arup’s Mike Glover will act as project manager while Naeem Hussain, also of Arup, takes on the role of main crossing manager for the bridge. The team will provide specialist skills in, for example, architecture and aesthetics, geotechnics, environment and landscaping, budgeting, statutory processes and health and safety.
Ainslie McLaughlin, Director of Major Transport Infrastructure Projects for Transport Scotland, said:
"This joint venture brings together the industry’s leading players and renowned consultants with a proven track record in delivering world-class infrastructure projects.
"The strong core team compliments Transport Scotland’s own expertise in project delivery and is backed by an extended pool of talented and experienced professionals whose skills in a variety of fields will be crucial to the delivery of the new Forth bridge.
"A modern, efficient transport network is vital to a thriving, prosperous economy and the new bridge will support commuters, businesses and protect the environment."
Transport Scotland will shortly begin recruiting for the internal post of Forth Replacement Crossing project director who will oversee the project and to whom the consultant team will report.
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth confirmed in Parliament this week the Forth Replacement Crossing would be a cable-stayed bridge located to the West of the existing Forth Road Bridge. Work on the next phase of the £3.2 - £4.2 billion project will commence in January.
For further information visit Forth Replacement Crossing
