A CONSORTIUM has pulled out of the fight for the contract to build and run the new Tyne Tunnel.
T4, which includes Edmund Nuttall, Mowlem plc and Vinci SA, withdrew because ownership of one of the companies has changed hands.
The two remaining bidders are Connect North-East, made up of Balfour Beatty Capital Projects and Volker Stein Construction Europe, and The Bouygues Consortia, which includes Bouygues Travaux Publics SA.
New Tyne Crossing project director Paul Fenwick said: "While it is disappointing that T4 has withdrawn from the procurement process, there could be a positive impact on timescales.
"We now only need to evaluate two bids, which will take less time. In addition, if one bid is clearly superior to the other and meets our criteria, then we may be able to appoint a concessionaire without going through a best and final offer stage."
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