The 8,500t deal is a consolation for the UK steelwork sector, which saw Chinese, Polish and Spanish suppliers secure the main bridgework.

Steel caissons already in place were made at Crist in Gdansk, Poland. Around 8,500t for the steel bridge sections will be fabricated at Tecade-Megusa in Seville, Spain and 24,500t will be fabricated at Zhenhua Heavy Industries in Shanghai, China.

General manager Andy Hall said Cleveland Bridge had beaten international competition including a competitive bid from a Spanish supplier to secure the deal.

Cleveland’s order will create 130 jobs and secure 260 jobs at its Darlington works for the next 18 months.

The contractor is now on the hunt for 70 fabrication workers, 10 staff in projects and engineering, and 50 for site labour.

“We have worked extremely hard to secure this contract against international competition and this contract will provide a solid foundation for our Darlington facility for the next 18 months, giving us the opportunity to recruit and build on our existing engineering, workshop and site resource,” said Hall.

Its last big deal came in 2008 for 21,180 tonnes of steel bridge girders for the M74 and the M8 motorways in Glasgow.