The Government is looking for a firm to carry out independent reviews of proposed replacements of two East End bridges.

According to a request for proposal, published on the Government’s procurement website last week, the Government was seeking proposals for Category 3 independent checks of planned replacements for Longbird Bridge and Swing Bridge.

“This includes examination of the final construction drawings, bar schedules, functional specifications and proposed construction sequence, using comparative calculations by a team of engineers that are independent of the designer's organisation,” the RFP stated.

“The independent check team must be competent in the field of work undertaken and have relevant experience in designing and/or performing independent checks of moveable bridges; tied-arch bridges and bridge structures with orthotropic decks and composite decks.

“The team should demonstrate that is has qualifications commensurate with the complexity of the respective bridge designs.”

The documents state that the proposed replacement for the Swing Bridge – which links St David’s to St George’s – would be a “seven span viaduct” constructed next to the existing structure.

Meanwhile the proposed replacement for Longbird Bridge – which links the Causeway to St David’s island – would be a tied arch bridge erected on the line of the original slewing bridge, which was closed in 2007 with traffic diverted along a pair of temporary Mabey bridges.

Submissions for the RFP must be submitted by June 29 with an agreement expected to be completed by August 7.

It had been predicted that both the Swing Bridge and Long Bird Bridge would reach the end of their useful lives in 2021.

Designs for the replacement bridges were unveiled in 2018, however the project was subsequently put on the back burner because of the economic challenges faced by the Government.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said last year that $400,000 had been earmarked in this year’s Budget for repair work on the Swing Bridge with a request for quotations for urgent repairs to the structure put out in March.