Contractors working on the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) have confirmed where they will be sourcing the steel required by the new bridge.

Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) - the consortium who’s successful tender for the FRC’s Principal Contract came in around £400 million under budget, saving Scots £80 per head – have struck a number of deals with major international steel suppliers in China and the EU.

The construction, which will support over 1,200 jobs in Scotland and protect over 3,000 more, will see over 37,000 tonnes of steel delivered to three new fabrication plants being established on the banks of the Forth.

No Scottish firms bid to supply the huge amount of raw steel required by a project of this scale, although the final assembly stages of the steel components will be carried out on site at the new plants in Rosyth, South Queensferry and North Queensferry.

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This aspect of the work will support around 100 jobs locally as well as generating substantial further opportunities for local support industries and contractors.

All FRC related contracts are advertised on Public Contracts Scotland and the remaining five years of the construction process will offer many opportunities for Scottish businesses to work on the scheme.

Minister for Housing and Transport, Keith Brown said: "The FRC is an absolutely essential project for Scotland’s sustainable economic growth. It is already creating jobs for Scottish people and sub-contract opportunities for Scottish firms and the realisation of these benefits will only accelerate during the five-year construction period.

"The British Chambers of Commerce has estimated the project’s knock-on economic benefits will be worth around £6 billion and before Christmas it was confirmed the construction sector had already received a significant boost, with 118 sub-contracts worth over £20 million in total already awarded to Scottish firms.

"This construction will support over 1,200 new jobs and protect up to Scottish 3,000 more that would otherwise be at risk if the current Forth Road Bridge had to close without a replacement crossing in place. It will also deliver hugely valuable employment opportunities for school leavers, graduate engineers and those currently out of work."

(GK)