A consortium consisting of construction partners Kier, FCC and Samsung are believed to have won a contract for the £600m Mersey Gateway Project.

According to the Construction Enquirer, it is understood the consortium saw off competition from two other teams, including Balfour Beatty and Boygues and BAM Nuttall and Hochtief.

The winning bidder is expected to be officially confirmed next month with construction starting in late 2013/early 2014.

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A spokesperson for the project said: "The procurement process is progressing well and is still ongoing.

"We have had very productive discussions with all three shortlisted bidders and are confident we will be able to make a formal announcement about the appointment of a preferred bidder in June 2013.

"We will not be giving any further updates on progress until this point."

However, a source at one of the losing bidders is quoted as saying: "The official announcement is due fairly shortly but all the signs now point to the Merseylink consortium.

"The three shortlisted teams put a lot of work into this but there can only be one winner at the end of the day."

The chosen consortium will be awarded a 30-year contract to design, build, finance and operate a new toll bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes.

(JP/MH)