New bridge a step closer

Three world class engineering consortia bidding to build the new crossing have been asked to submit their final tenders by April 10.

They are competing for a 30-year contract worth £2 billion, to design, build, finance and operate a six lane toll bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes.

The winner will be announced in June, and construction will start by the end of 2013.

Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Council, said: “We are now nearing the end of a very detailed and complex process to appoint a private sector partner to work with us for the next three decades on the Mersey Gateway project. This means that the new bridge we really need here in Halton is one step closer, which is great news.”

The bids will be assessed against a set of detailed criteria that focuses on quality and value for money.

Steve Nicholson, Mersey Gateway project director, said: “We are still on track to meet our overall timetable of signing a contract with the appointed bidder during 2013.

“It is important that we continue to focus on both the need for quality on the project and the need to deliver value for money for the public purse. I am confident that we will get three high quality submissions that will deliver on both counts.”

Samsung C&T Corporation has joined the Merseylink consortium as part of the construction joint venture, partnering FCC Construcción S.A. and Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Limited.

An artist’s impression of Mersey Gateway