The contract award for the East London river crossing will allow the consortium’s construction team of BAM Nuttall, including sister company Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau, Ferrovial Agroman and  Korean contractor SK E&C to progress with appointing local subcontractors and suppliers.

The design includes a 1.4-kilometre twin-bore road tunnel under the River Thames as well as 0.6-kilometres of access ramps.

It will connect south of the River Thames with the access to the existing Blackwall Tunnel and north of the River Thames with the Tidal Basin Roundabout, in Silvertown.

Silvertown will be the UK’s first major road tunnel to include a dedicated bus line in both directions.

When it opens in 2025, the tunnel will support future population growth in this part of London – and minimise the growing delays through the 122-year-old Blackwall Tunnel.

The contract award for the East London river crossing was stalled after reserve bidder Silver Thames Connect– which contains Hochtief and Dragados – lodged a legal challenge.

This automatically forced TfL to suspend the procurement process threatening to delay the vital river crossing between Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula.

Last month STC consented to TfL’s application to the court to lift the suspension allowing work to proceed with contract award.

The legal battle, which is based on STC concerns about the scoring process and alleged anomalies in the marking, will still continue in the courts.