£140m Tyne tunnel advertised

The Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) has posted a pre-information notice for the £140m New Tyne Crossing PFI tunnel on the OJEU.

The scheme involves the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of a 1.6km-long immersed tube tunnel, connecting Howdon on the north bank of the Tyne with Jarrow on the south bank.

Tyne & Wear PTA is still waiting on a ruling from the Deputy Prime MInister John Prescott. He was supposed to have given a decision on 20 September.

It is not yet known whether his delay will affect the construction start date of spring 2004 and the tunnel opening date of May 2007.