Aecom and URS Scott Wilson has been awarded the role of Design Checker for the Forth Replacement Bridge in Scotland.

A joint venture formed by technical and management support provider Aecom and engineering construction and technical service provider URS Scott Wilson has been awarded the role of design checker for the Forth Replacement Bridge in Scotland.

Aecom will perform the design check of the cable-stayed bridge including the complex cable arrangement and major marine foundation works while URS Scott Wilson will undertake the check of all aspects of the works, excluding the cable-stayed bridge, but including the abutments and approach viaducts to the main crossing and all roadworks and land based structures.

The current Forth Road Bridge is showing signs of deterioration and is not suitable as the long-term main crossing of the Firth of Forth.

Construction of the £1.5bn replacement crossing is expected to commence this autumn after a two-year procurement process and is due to be completed by 2016.

The new main crossing across the Forth will provide a dual two lane carriageway, complete with hard shoulders, and consists of a cable-stayed bridge, with the three ‘mono’ towers and two main spans of 650m each, and approach viaducts connecting the bridge to the two abutments.

The design checker contract has been awarded by the Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC), a consortium which includes Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge and Morrison Construction.

FCBC is contracted to oversee the design and construction of the new bridge together with 7km of approach roads north and south of the crossing and the installation of an Intelligent Transport System for traffic management.