Urban Systems Ltd. of Vancouver took the top award for Design and Contract Preparation - Roads, at the 9th annual Deputy Minister's Consulting Engineers Awards, for its exceptional work on the Highway 97 Winfield to Oyama four-laning project in the Okanagan.

Urban Systems Ltd. was awarded a $1.4-million contract to provide the engineering work required to complete the design of approximately nine kilometres of Highway 97 within the District of Lake Country - upgrading it from two lanes to four lanes with a 100 kilometre per hour speed.

It was a large and complex endeavour, with two highway bridges and two vehicle underpasses, as well as the relocation of the highway away from Wood Lake. The design dealt with challenging terrain, steep grades, high cuts and large quantities of material that needed to be removed.

Urban Systems Ltd. put together a comprehensive contract package providing an excellent design, incorporating municipal needs as well as protecting bat habitat in an environmentally sensitive area and preserving archeological values along the corridor.

The $77.9-million project to construct a new four-lane section of Highway 97 between Winfield and Oyama has surpassed the halfway mark. The project is funded under the Building Canada Fund, with the B.C. government contributing $44.3 million and the Government of Canada contributing up to $33.6 million.

The finalists in this category were CH2M Hill Canada Ltd. of Burnaby for Highway 16 Burns Lake arterial improvements and Sun Coast Consulting Ltd. of Nanaimo, GMV Engineering of Burnaby and CH2M Hill Canada Ltd. of Burnaby for the South Fraser Perimeter Road project.

The Deputy Minister's Consulting Engineers Awards recognize technical excellence in consulting engineer services that improve transportation infrastructure in B.C.

Finalists were chosen for projects completed in 2012 in the categories of:

• Design and Contract Preparation - Roads

• Design and Contract Preparation - Structures

• Construction Management and Supervision Services

• Specialized Engineering Services

• Transit Engineering Services

Quotes:

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mary Polak -

"This award highlights the technical expertise of Urban Systems Ltd., delivering a practical and efficient highway design to increase capacity from two lanes to four lanes and, at the same time, respecting and preserving environmentally sensitive areas in the Okanagan. Congratulations to all of the finalists for their work to further boost B.C.'s thriving transportation networks."

Vancouver-False Creek MLA Mary McNeil -

"Urban Systems Ltd. worked through challenging terrain to deliver an enhanced highway design for this stretch of Highway 97 - a project that will improve the infrastructure for the movement of people and goods through this important corridor. This is an award well-earned, and I offer my congratulations to all team members involved."

Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick -

"I am excited to see this project develop. Once complete, the new four-lane stretch of highway will replace the last two-lane section of Highway 97 between the Okanagan Connector and Vernon. It will benefit all Okanagan Valley families and businesses by offering a wider, safer and more efficient corridor."

Learn More:

For photos and videos: www.th.gov.bc.ca/celebratingexcellence/engineers.htm

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Media Contact:

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 356-8241