The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) is in the final stages of "mobilisation talks" with infrastructure giants Amey in preparation for the handover of operational control of the Forth Road Bridge, on June 1st, under the terms of a deal estimated to be worth up to £60m over five years.
FETA, a quango governed by local councillors from both sides of the Firth of Forth, is preparing to "TUPE across" its skilled managers and operatives to Amey, as agreed in the terms of the operating contract procured by Transport Scotland and announced in November 2014. The bridge's present and future managers are engaged in a "schedule of regular meetings" to finalise details, including vehicle rescue measures, bad weather responses, and the sensitive area of preventing and managing self-harm by members of the public.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: "In conjunction with FETA senior management, both Transport Scotland and Amey are working together to ensure a smooth transition of the management and operation of the Forth Road Bridge in [two weeks] time. Work on the handover is proceeding as planned and both organisations are committed to ensuring bridge users receive a high quality of service."
"The new operating contract will bring a range of economic and social benefits to the local community, providing opportunities for increased employment, training and education. Amey's experience and expertise in managing major infrastructure projects in Scotland will also help to deliver increased value for money in the provision of these services."
Although the £1.6bn-turnover Amey UK plc, a subsidiary of Spanish multinational Ferrovial which employs 21,000 people throughout the UK, is more experienced in highways and rail than in the specialised management of major suspension bridges, Transport Scotland has given reassurances that bridge users will experience no changes in service levels, and that proximity of the Multi Response Team based at Traffic Scotland control centre close by will be "well-placed to co-ordinate decisions linked to conditions and weather forecasts."
Amey is also set to manage the nearby Queensferry Crossing when it opens for traffic, promised in late 2016. After that date the ageing Forth Road Bridge, which costs around £9m a year to maintain, will be exclusively reserved for public transport.
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