Bids invited for Mersey Gateway project
Halton Council is seeking contractors for the new £600m bridge to be built across the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes.
Contracts for the design, build, finance, maintenance and operation of the new electronically tolled bridge will be awarded.
The Government confirmed in October that it would provide up to £470m of funding towards the total cost of the Mersey Gateway project, following its announcement a year ago within its spending review that funding will be protected.
Within a tender document, Halton Council said the projected capital cost is estimated at £510m. Land acquisitions and associated compensatory costs and the cost of advance works are excluded from this amount. Other costs are estimated to be £40m for lifecycle costs over a 30 year period, set up costs are estimated at £20m, while routine operations and maintenance costs are estimated to be £12m a year.
Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in 2013 and is due to be open for traffic in 2016. The Department for Transport will support construction costs with a mixture of capital grant and revenue funding for the bridge's continued operation.
Work will involve construction of approach roads on the north and south side of the river as well as design, supply, installation and operation of tolling services on the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge.
Deadline for PQQs is 12pm on Wednesday 14 December. Companies will need to register to the North West's local authority procurement portal website, The Chest.
Invitations to tender will then be dispatched to selected candidates on 1 February 2012.
- For more details call Steve Nicholson at the council on 0151 495 4091
