Cleveland Bridge wins Forth Bridge contract

More than 100 jobs will be created after a Darlington-based firm signed a contract to build part of the new Forth Road Bridge between Edinburgh and Fife.

Cleveland Bridge will make steel girders to support viaducts at both ends of the new £790m crossing.

The firm, which has built structures all over the world including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, said the deal would also secure 260 current jobs.

Work on the Forth project is due to finish in 2016.

'Deteriorating'

General manager Andy Hall said Cleveland Bridge had beaten international competition to secure the deal.

"This contract will provide a solid foundation for our Darlington facility for the next 18 months," he said.

The new crossing is being built by Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) to the west of the existing bridge which is said to be "deteriorating".

Cleveland Bridge helped build the current crossing which was opened in 1964.

FCBC project director Carlo Germani said: "Cleveland Bridge rightly enjoys an international reputation for their specialist skills and expertise built up over many years."