The Ministry of Public Works is on the look out for a firm to examine the condition of the Swing Bridge in St George’s.

According to a Request for Proposal issued on February 4, the Ministry wants to engage an engineering firm to conduct a “detailed condition assessment” of the bridge, which links St George’s and St David’s.

The RFP added: “Following the condition assessment, the successful proponent will use their findings to analyse the structure and determine an appropriate load rating for the bridge.”

The RFP said the analysis should only consider the structural condition of the bridge in a closed position as there is “no intention to open the bridge in the foreseeable future”.

Potential applicants are urged to submit any questions by February 24 with a submission deadline of March 17.

The Government has long discussed the need to replace both the Swing Bridge and Longbird Bridge – which links the St David’s to the Causeway – but work to replace the bridges has been stalled by a lack of financing.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch last year estimated the cost to replace both bridges could reach $100 million.

Colonel Burch said: “My engineers are chomping at the bit to get going, but funding is the biggest challenge in relation to the bridges.

“We have been doing some behind the scenes work on them in terms of environmental studies and infrastructure improvements at the locations, but there is no funding at the moment to replace the bridges.

“We will be spending some money in this financial year to stabilise and maintain the bailey bridges at Longbird Bridge, but until we get funding, we are marking time.”

It was earlier predicted that the existing bridges would reach the end of their useful lives in 2021.