New bridge £700m under budget
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 23 Mar 2011 10:30
10 Comments
THE new Forth Crossing bridge will create 3000 jobs and cost up to £700 million less than had been originally projected, the Scottish Government has announced.
However, opponents slammed the timing of such a major decision on the eve of the Scottish election campaign with accusations of it being a "stunt" by a government who could soon be out of power and the new costs were described as looking "downright dishonest" by the Greens.
It had been estimated that the massive construction project would cost between £1.7bn and £2.3bn but the new figure is £1.47bn to 1.62bn.
Work on the new crossing should start in the next few months and will be completed by 2016 ahead of any potential closure of the existing road bridge.
The preferred bidder is the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) consortium, made up of Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Morrison Construction.
Finance secretary John Swinney and transport minister Keith Brown visited North Queensferry on Monday to make the announcement.
Mr Swinney said, "It is a testament to the robust competition we put in place that it has delivered a bid representing a significant saving for Scotland's capital budget.
"This is yet more compelling evidence that the Scottish Government is managing major infrastructure projects successfully in a way which maximises benefits and minimises cost to the public purse.
"Value for money was clearly an essential factor in making this decision but the winning proposal also includes hugely valuable commitments on sustainability, training and employment opportunities.
"The project is on time and ahead of budget and that is a considerable achievement considering both the Bill process and procurement of such a major contract had, necessarily given the issues facing the current Forth Road Bridge, to be run concurrently."
Lib Dem MSP for Dunfermline West Jim Tolson said, "We greatly welcome the announcement.
"I think it's great news and a major step to ensure the future vitality in West Fife and beyond. It was a pleasant surprise to find it came in under budget."
However, Labour MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife John Park said, "While all the main parties at Holyrood fully support the decision to build the new Forth Crossing, the timing of this announcement, two days before the start of the election campaign, will be seen by some people as a bit of a stunt.
"This will be the country's biggest infrastructure project and (the decision) has been taken by a government who could be gone in a few weeks' time.
"Most people will think the sensible thing would have been to wait for the new government to make a decision."
Rosyth SNP councillor Douglas Chapman said, "After years of dithering by the previous Scottish Executive, this is a giant step forward towards seeing a new bridge span the Forth and an enormous amount of credit needs to go to the Scottish Government for making such significant progress on this project since 2007.
"The new Forth Road Bridge represents the largest single capital investment in an infrastructure project for a generation and it's here in Fife creating jobs, training places and apprenticeship opportunities.
"The bonus for the taxpayer is a huge and unexpected saving in the cost of the overall project, down from £2.3bn to nearer £1.5bn and again underlines the Scottish Government's commitment to spending every pound wisely and well."
The Greens are angry that the decision has been taken in the run-up to the Scottish elections and have requested a ruling on whether it was legitimate to do so.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said, "The routine and uncontroversial business of government has to continue but this decision is anything but: it's an extravagant, unnecessary and unpopular project being awarded by the SNP as an election stunt.
"Ministers and Transport Scotland also still have serious questions to answer about the total cost.
"Suddenly claiming VAT won't be payable, wishing inflation away and reducing costs of capital look like at best arbitrary and unsubstantiated ways to massage the cost down.
"At worst they look downright dishonest.
"I have written to the Permanent Secretary today urging him to reconsider and instruct a delay instead, perhaps of no more than six weeks.
"He serves Scotland and should not bend the rules to serve his here-today, gone-tomorrow political masters."
Meanwhile away from the political wrangling, the public is to have a say in the naming of the new bridge.
Mr Brown said, "This government recognises that finding an appropriate name for the new bridge is a matter of considerable interest both locally and nationally.
"While we should remember that the Forth Replacement Crossing is the name of the project to deliver the bridge, not the name of the completed bridge, I would like to have an open and transparent process for deciding the name that allows all of Scotland to be involved.
"I have asked my officials to look at how to best co-ordinate a process naming the new bridge in which the public can fully participate and the Contact and Education Centre (to be based at South Queensferry) will be a key channel for delivering this.
"Details of this process are likely to be announced during 2012 to allow a name to be chosen for the expected opening of the new bridge in 2016."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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Jojo
Unregistered User
Mar 23, 16:59
Report commentIt might start £700m under budget, but we all know that it won't finish £700m under budget.
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chieftain
Unregistered User
Mar 23, 20:29
Report commentyeah yer probably right Jojo but am sure the authorities have the old tollgates well painted and oiled to make up the deficit.....what i cant understand is the siting....is it between the already built or is it on the rosyth side of the present road bridge.....going by the artists impression it looks like an in betweener
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Jojo
Unregistered User
Mar 23, 21:46
Report commentI thought they were 2 synchronised sailing boats ;)
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chieftain
Unregistered User
Mar 23, 21:59
Report commenthope they keep the steel cables nice and comfy this time....they're running outa room to build another
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Chorthie
Unregistered User
Mar 24, 08:13
Report commentCables on this one can be replaced one by one! So no same problem here!
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hazelkaye
316 posts
Mar 24, 18:07
Report commentA "£700M £orth £airy Tale" and no-one is £ooled by this blatant - but 'clear as crystal' attempt at electioneering the day before the dissolution of Parliament!
Dissolved would actually be a better term - then they could all 'melt away' in the briny waters of the £orth!
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******
Mar 25, 09:06
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Big Leish
Unregistered User
Mar 25, 09:11
Report commentTolls OFF - Thanks SNP
Bridge being built ( jobs created ) - Thanks SNP
Halbeath Park and Choose ( easier life for commuters ) - Thanks SNP
OK, so I might just be voting SNP.
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******
Mar 25, 13:29
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jan the man
Unregistered User
Mar 26, 15:13
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rantnrave
Unregistered User
Mar 26, 20:52
Report commentThe new bridge seems very close to the Rosyth Dockyard, I just hope they make sure its high enough for the new aircraft carriers to sail under. The cost should be ironclad and not allowed to go over budget.
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coppergrease
Unregistered User
Mar 29, 11:39
Report commentAlas, on a project of this size you don't get ironclad quotes unless you pay a lot of money up front for the investigation/supplies work to assure it. So far they have only spent a few millions, it would cost more than that for a company to put their future on the line against a project of this size. They have chosen to use a proven bridge technology and aren't doing anything ground breaking, so this gives good assurance. However, if the price of steel doubled in the next 6 months due to Japan rebuilding it's entire West coast. That would be an unforseeable event, so they couldn't build that into the costs of materials and no company would want to take the project on if it was expected to risk it's existance.
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