The process of identifying the contractor who will build the landmark Forth Replacement Crossing is now under way.

The contract notice has been submitted for publication by Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government agency in charge of the scheme.

The news that the single biggest transport infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation, which is due to open to traffic in 2016, is now ready to go to the marketplace will be another boost to the hard-pressed construction industry.

The £1.7bn - £2.3bn project forms the biggest single element of a huge programme of investment by the Scottish Government in Scotland's road and rail networks which will promote both sustainable economic growth in the future and support hundreds of construction jobs over the next decade.

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Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "I am delighted that the Forth Replacement Crossing project continues to make progress towards delivery as demanded by the people of Scotland. The need to protect and improve the capacity for cross-Forth travel is beyond doubt and the Scottish Government is absolutely clear that sustainable economic growth must be promoted in these difficult financial times.

"We have also been clear that the Forth Replacement Crossing will be funded directly by the Scottish Government from existing capital budgets. Against the backdrop of the global economic downturn, we are driving forward the largest transport investment programme Scotland has ever seen with a number of vital projects, of which the FRC is the biggest."

The minister said he is looking to the construction industry to be enthusiastic about the chance to bid to build a project which is vital for the economy and communities of Scotland but also will join the existing two iconic Forth bridges as part of an internationally recognised landmark.

The Scottish Government will seek approval for the project through a Parliamentary Bill, which is expected to be introduced to Parliament at the end of this year.

(GK/JM)