The Government of British Columbia has invited three pre-qualified bidding teams to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage to design, build, partially finance and operate the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project. The total cost of the project is estimated at $3.5 billion.

The request for qualifications (RFQ) was posted through BC Bid and closed on Aug. 3, 2016. A thorough evaluation of the RFQ submissions was undertaken and the three teams selected to participate in the RFP are:

• Gateway Mobility Solutions:
  • Equity partners: ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Aecon Concessions, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions North America Inc. and Star America Infrastructure Partners
  • Design-build contractors: Dragados Canada, Inc. and Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited

• Lower Mainland Connectors:
  • Equity partners: Kiewit Canada, Macquarie and VINCI Concessions
  • Design-build contractors: B.A. Blacktop, Janin Atlas Inc., and Peter Kiewit Infrastructure Co.

• Pacific Skyway Partners:
  • Equity partners: Fluor Canada Ltd., John Laing Investment Limited and SNC-Lavalin Capital Inc.
  • Design-build contractors: American Bridge Company, Fluor Canada Ltd., and SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Inc.

The finalization of the shortlist signals the completion of the RFQ process, which began on June 28, 2016. The RFQ process identified bid 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 fairness advisor, Jane Shackell, QC, is the appointed monitor of the procurement process and has found the evaluation process to be fair and unbiased. The fairness advisor’s report will be made available at the end of the procurement process at: www.partnershipsbc.ca

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 24 kilometres 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.

It is estimated that about 9,000 direct jobs will be created over the life of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project. Construction will begin in 2017 with the bridge opening in 2022, followed by tunnel decommissioning.

A copy of the Request for Proposals is available on the project website at: www.masseytunnel.ca