Two afloat in battle for Thames bridge

Two firms are locked in a £25m tussle to bridge the gap in Surrey. Sources say the race for a new crossing of the River Thames at Walton has narrowed to two contenders - Costain and Laing O'Rourke - from an original field of five.
Likely to be stranded on the banksides are the three other firms shortlisted to bid for the deal - Carillion, Amec and Morgan Est.
The client, Surrey County Council, is expected to choose the winning contractor next month. The current timetable on the early contractor involvement deal is for work on site to start in February 2007, with completion due in June 2009.
The new bridge will be constructed about 20m upstream from the existing temporary bridge at Walton-on-Thames, which currently carries an estimated 34,000 vehicles every weekday. The scheme also features twin link roads and a new viaduct across a floodplain.
After a public exhibition showcasing various bridge designs, a tied arch bridge triumphed over beam and slab, cable-stayed and twin "V" support proposals.