BAM Nuttall’s Kilsyth office will resource and deliver the project, which will also involve a substantial amount of work for local sub-contractors.

Transport Scotland is putting up £9m for the project with the port authority contributing the rest.

Port Authority, chief executive Jane Maciver said: “If everything continues to go smoothly we hope to be in a position to formally award the contract at the end of this month. With a very tight timescale we expect a start on site as soon as contract is awarded.”