Steel price hike sends cost of bridge too far

Jan 2 2009 by Lex Brown, Irvine Herald

A WORLDWIDE shortage of steel tubing is being blamed as one of the reasons for the soaring cost of the replacement Bailey Bridge over the River Irvine.

Builders will be forced to use thicker, heavier tubing pushing the cost up by £554,000.

The collapse of the pound against the dollar has added another £230,000 to the bill.

But improvement works to the road between the Milgarholm and Merryvale roundabouts, including a new car park at the Milgarholm playing fields, are expected to cost less than expected.

In all North Ayrshire Council will have to find more than £1million extra to allow work to the original specifications to begin.

The executive of North Ayrshire Council are recommending acceptance of a £3,545,000 tender from Graham Construction to allow work on the overdue replacement to start in 2009.

In a report to the executive, corporate director Tom Orr said the bridge designers have been asked to try to trim costs.

He said: “There is a projected shortfall with respect to the main contract for the construction of the bridge and associated roadworks and a request for further funding of £1.117m is being made.

“There is no allowance for contingencies in this figure.

“No finance has been identified for the additional phases of the scheme. The prices submitted by the lowest tenderer are significantly below the estimate should finance be identified. The total value of these options is £553,000.”

The council have drawn-up a comprehensive plan which they say will improve traffic flow during the year-long construction.