Final bids have been submitted for the £1 billion contract to build a new crossing over the Firth of Forth in Scotland.
Forthspan and Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC), together representing eight bridge building and civil engineering firms,are competing for the principal contract to build the new bridge and connecting roads on the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project.
The submission of the bids marks the last major step in the process before the contract is awarded in April, with work expected to start soon after the deal is signed.
The condition of the existing bridge, linking Edinburgh and Fife, is deteriorating after being in use for more than 40 years. It is thought that heavy vehicles such as lorries may have to be banned from the bridge as early as 2017 if corrosion is not halted.
The project will result in a 1.7-mile, cable-stayed double-span bridge to the west of the existing Forth Road Bridge and is expected to create 3,000 jobs.
The contract will also encompass the construction of 2.5 miles of new, motorway-quality roads connecting the crossing to the existing road network, as well as upgrades to existing roads and interchanges at M9 Junction 1a and the M90 at Ferrytoll.
A 13.7-mile intelligent transport system (ITS) designed to manage traffic across the Forth will also be provided.
Scotland's three major parties have backed the scheme, with MSPs voting overwhelmingly in favour of the project in December last year.
