30.10.17
Contractors invited to tender for £165m Edinburgh tram extension
Edinburgh City Council has started its search for contractors to deliver the city’s major tram extension.
Tendering has begun on the project, which has been divided into two lots: lot 1 - the infrastructure and systems contract, and lot 2 - the Swept Path contract.
The winner of the infrastructure and systems contract will be responsible for bringing the Edinburgh tram to Newhaven and Leith in operation.
The scope of the Swept Path contract will be to clear the tram route of all below ground utilities and obstructions, the parameters of which will be defined by the contractor awarded the lot 1 contract.
The Outline Business Case (OBC) for taking trams to Newhaven was approved by the City of Edinburgh Council back in September, but councillors will not make a final decision on this until autumn 2018.
During the intervening period, known as Stage 2, the project team will test affordability based on tender prices, build up a further 12 months of evidence of tram patronage, consider lessons learned from the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry, and work on traffic management arrangements.
The planned works include eight new tram stops, the demolition of York Place tram stop, two substations, bridge works, and 4.6km of embedded, slab and ballast track.
The project is estimated to take three years, including an 18 month period on Leith Walk, followed by four months of resting and commissioning on the new line.
Edinburgh Council estimate the capital cost at £165.2m, including risk and inflation, and anticipate a return of £1.64 to the city’s economy for every £1 spent.
Speaking following approval of the OBC last month, council leader, Adam McVey, said: “Given the rate of growth forecast for Edinburgh over the coming years, we simply cannot stand still.
“And yet we can't proceed with work to take trams down to Newhaven unless we're 100% certain we've rigorously scrutinised the business case and taken on board crucial lessons from the first phase.”
He continued: “We will only make our final decision next autumn once the tendering process has completed and once we've consulted an independent assessor on the viability of the proposed construction contracts.
“We'll also of course consider any lessons learned from Lord Hardie's ongoing tram inquiry as we move forward.”
Transport convener, Cllr Lesley Maccines, added: “We'll take the time while the tender process is ongoing to build and maintain useful two-way relationships with local residents and businesses so we can understand and ideally pre-empt issues which might arise.
"Stage 2 will also enable us to work with all our partners and stakeholders, including bus companies, the emergency services, residents, businesses and elected members, to properly test and model traffic management plans for the works.”