Costain, Jackson and Volker have submitted bids for a £21.7m job for East Sussex County Council to replace the single lane Exceat Bridge on the A259 over the River Cuckmere near Seaford, with a new two-way, two-lane structure including a footpath.
Tenders were returned at the end of October, and a decision is imminent with work expected to start in early 2026.
The scheme is being funded by a £7.9m grant from the Government's Levelling Up Fund and £11.28m from round one of the Bus Service Improvement Plan with the council providing the balance.
Claire Dowling, the council's lead member for transport and environment, said: 'This is a huge project that will make a positive difference with the removal of the bottleneck, reduction in journey times and improvement to accessibility for visitors to the area.'
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Confirming the Exceat bridge scheme will help unlock the A259 corridor between Eastbourne and Seaford, improve journeys and give better access to the Seven Sisters Country Park.
'We are committed to empowering local authorities to deliver infrastructure that puts its communities first and boosts growth."
The council has said that in order to replace the existing bridge with a new one in the same location as quickly and cost effectively as possible it will require the authority to close the A259: 'the closure could last for up to 22 weeks during construction'.
