Expert help wanted for £7m Castle Cornet bridge project

Tuesday 19 December 2023

Guernsey Ports wants to bring in expert help as it works up plans to build a new bridge to Castle Cornet.

It is inviting 'Expressions of Interest' from maritime bridge specialists.

The current bridge’s reinforced concrete deck, which dates back to 1951, has required extensive monitoring, maintenance and inspection recently as the underneath crumbles.

Restrictions on its use are already in place. 

The States’ Trading Supervisory Board’s has a policy letter going to the States that proposes replacing the 95-metre bridge and side span to Castle Cornet with a like-for-like structure to last more than 50 years. This is estimated to cost between £6-7 million.

Guernsey Ports civil engineer Jenny Giles said: “The appointment of a specialist technical and design advisor at the outset is key to the delivery of this project, which is being led by Guernsey Ports.

“The preferred supplier will provide industry-specific expertise to help us achieve the best value design and delivery of a multi-million pound investment in our local infrastructure.

“Our preferred suppliers will have the expertise to undertake the outline design of the new bridge, to submit a planning application, assist with developing a tender specification for a design and build contract, advise on the contractor market to reach a wide audience, and act as technical adviser on reviewing submitted designs.”

Approximately £131,500 has been spent so far in 2023 developing the future options.

The requirement for specialist technical support is covered by funding allocated to the project by Policy & Resources in September 2023. 

The Expressions of Interest document will be live on the States’ tender portal until midday on Friday 12 January. It is hoped a preferred supplier will be agreed by the end of March.

The STSB’s policy letter on the future of Castle Cornet Bridge is expected to go before the States early next year. The appointment of this advisor will be conditional on the outcome of that debate.

It asks the Assembly to note that replacement of the bridge with a like-for-like structure with design enhancements is the preferred and most cost-effective solution.

It also asks for the existing capital vote for the bridge’s renovation, which has already been prioritised by the Assembly as a “must do” project in the range of £5-10 million, to be set at a maximum of £7 million, subject to P&R’s final approval of the full business case.