Two bidders for the New Tyne Crossing have submitted their plans to Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority, for financing, designing and construction of the second vehicle crossing – and operation of all the tunnels under the river. Connect North East comprises Balfour Beatty Capital Projects and Volker Stein, while the Bouygues Consortium is led by Bouygues Travaux Publics. The winner will be selected next summer and construction will begin in autumn 2007.