The next step to ensuring continued quality maintenance of British Columbia’s highways, roads and bridges is underway, with requests for proposals (RFPs) going out to tender this week for three of the Province’s 28 contracted service areas.

The new maintenance contracts will include increased standards, resulting in enhanced winter maintenance, expanded sweeping along cycling routes and more communication with the public regarding rapidly changing road conditions during severe weather events and other incidents affecting travel on B.C. roads.

Requests for proposals will be tendered this week for highway maintenance contracts in Service Area 2 - Central Island and Service Area 3 - North Island, both on Vancouver Island, and for Service Area 24 - Lakes, which is located in the Bulkley Valley. RFPs for the remaining service areas will follow.

These requests for proposals follow the request for qualifications phase of procurement, which has resulted in a list of qualified suppliers that will be used for these and future requests for proposals.

In total, 26 service-area RFPs will be posted and awarded before the existing maintenance contracts expire through 2018 and 2019, with a final RFP being posted and awarded in 2021. This continues the procurement process that started in 2015 with the tender and award of Service Area 11 to Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting LP.

The Province will award contracts with a 10-year term, and an optional five-year extension, which will provide continuity of services and extended labour peace. Travellers can rely on improved maintenance service levels that meet or exceed best practices throughout North America.

Learn More:

A list of suppliers qualified by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to bid on the Province’s highway maintenance contracts is available online: www.gov.bc.ca/highwaymaintenancerenewal