Mersey Gateway shortlist announced
Teams led by Macquarie Capital Group, Balfour Beatty, and Galliford Try will compete to build and run the £600m second crossing over the Mersey between Widnes and Runcorn.
The three shortlisted bidders are:
- Balfour Beatty, Bouygues Travaux Publics, Egis Projects consortium, comprising equity members Balfour Beatty, Bouygues Travaux Publics and Egis Projects
- Merseylink consortium, comprising equity members Macquarie Capital Group, Bilfinger Berger Project Investments, Vialia Sociedad Gestora de Concesiones de Infraestructuras SL and FCC Construcción SA, and
- MGL consortium, comprising equity members Galliford Try Investments, Hochtief PPP Solutions GmbH and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras SA
The three were selected by Halton Borough Council from the expressions of interest received from six groups in December 2011.
The selection has been based on the published pre-qualification criteria where the shortlisted bidders were awarded the highest scores.
The successful candidates will now be invited to compete for a contract to design, build, finance and operate a new toll bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes and associated work in the towns. The value of the construction phase, including land, is estimated at £600m.
Cllr Rob Polhill, leader of Halton Council, said: "We have attracted world class construction groups that have come together to compete for this prestigious contract. I look forward to announcing the eventual winner and the commencement of construction later next year."
Steve Nicholson, Mersey Gateway project director, said: "During the next year the project team will work with the shortlisted bidders to develop proposals that deliver quality and value for money on behalf of the taxpayer."
