Transport for London (TfL) has unlocked the award of the GBP1bn Silvertown Tunnel contract, despite the ongoing legal action over its procurement. TfL now hopes to sign a contract with the Ferrovial-led Riverlinx consortium while the legal battle is still in the courts.
The contract award had been suspended after rival bidder Silver Thames Connect (STC) – which includes Hochtieff, Dragados and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras - submitted a 7 Part Claim to the Technology and Construction Court. It contested the process, raising a detailed and specific argument against the scoring process and alleged anomalies in the marking. However STC consented to TfL’s application on the 2nd of October to lift the automatic suspension on the award of the Silvertown Tunnel contract.
Tfl will now progress the arrangements for the award of the contract to the Riverlinx consortium as soon as possible. Once open, a new twin-bore tunnel, located within the extended Ultra Low Emission zone, will remove barriers for people in east London needing to cross the river for work or leisure and improve the reliability and resilience of the local road network.' TfL will continue to discuss the outstanding issues relating to the challenges made by STC around the outcome of its procurement process and will continue to robustly defend their approach.
For further information please click here, here and uk/77 for tunnelbuilder archive. 43/19
