Three teams have been shortlisted to participate in the request for proposals phase of the competition to design, build, partially-finance and operate the replacement to the George Massey Tunnel in British Columbia, which includes construction of a new 10-lane highway bridge. The total cost of the project is estimated at $3.5 billion.

The teams are:

  • Gateway Mobility Solutions (Equity partners: ACS Infrastructure Canada, Aecon Concessions, Hochtief PPP Solutions North America and Star America Infrastructure Partners. Design-build contractors: Dragados Canada and Flatiron Constructors Canada)
  • Lower Mainland Connectors (Equity partners: Kiewit Canada, Macquarie and Vinci Concessions; design-build contractors: BA Blacktop, Janin Atlas, and Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
  • Pacific Skyway Partners (Equity partners: Fluor Canada, John Laing Investment and SNC-Lavalin Capital, design-build contractors: American Bridge Company, Fluor Canada, and SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific)).

The finalisation of the shortlist signals the completion of the RFQ process, which began on June 28, 2016 to identify teams with the development, construction and financial capacity to undertake a project of this size and complexity. The ministry expects to have its preferred proponent chosen by summer 2017.

The new bridge and associated highway improvements, including dedicated transit lanes, will cut some commute times in half and also improve travel-time reliability for the 10,000 transit passengers and more than 80,000 vehicles that use the tunnel each day.

Safety benefits of the project include a design that meets modern seismic standards, additional lanes that make merging safer for all vehicles while reducing collisions by an estimated 35%, and wider lanes and shoulders that will improve safety and emergency response times.

The project includes:

  • Construction of a 10-lane bridge built to modern seismic standards, with four general travel lanes and one dedicated transit/HOV lane in each direction;
  • Replacement of three interchanges at Westminster Highway, Steveston Highway and Highway 17A;
  • Widening of approximately 24km of Highway 99 to accommodate dedicated transit/HOV lanes from Bridgeport Road in Richmond to Highway 91 in Delta;
  • Replacement of the Deas Slough Bridge;
  • Construction of multi-use pathways on either side of the bridge for cyclists and pedestrians; and
  • Decommissioning of the tunnel.

Construction will begin in 2017 with the bridge opening in 2022, followed by tunnel decommissioning.