29/11/2023
Two Spanish companies, through their subsidiaries in Canada, have been shortlisted in the bidding process for the Fraser River Tunnel in British Columbia. The project is valued at US$3 billion.
FCC Canada Ltd and Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc. are part of two separate consortia out of three that will bid on the estimated $3 billion Fraser River Tunnel project south of Vancouver. The design and temporary works agreement with the winning team is scheduled to be signed by spring 2024.
The project includes the design and construction of an eight-lane, nearly one-kilometer-long submerged tube tunnel under the Fraser River between Deas Island and Richmond, British Columbia.
The planned scope of work also includes the replacement of the Deas Slough Bridge between Delta (British Columbia) and the island with a new 350-meter bridge, and the construction of a new southbound lane on Highway 99 between Westminster Highway and Steveston Highway in Richmond.
The shortlisted teams are:
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Cross Fraser Partnership, which includes Bouygues Construction Canada Inc, Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd, Pomerleau BC Inc, Arcadis Canada Inc and Boskalis Canada Dredging and Marine Services Ltd;
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Daewoo-GS JV, formed by Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd. with GS Engineering and Construction Corp., Hatch Ltd. and Ramboll A/S; and 3.
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Fraser River Tunnel Constructors, a team of Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc, Aecon Constructors, Flatiron Constructors Canada Ltd, Strukton Immersion Projects BV, AECOM Canada Ltd. and Tunnel Engineering Consultants VOF.
The new tunnel will include three general purpose lanes and one through lane in each direction, as well as a pedestrian and bicycle path. It will also be built to modern seismic performance standards and to allow greater clearances for vehicles.
Environmental processing of the project is ongoing, but the progressive design-build system allows the design to progress at the same time as the environmental assessment. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2030. Decommissioning of the Massey Tunnel will take place after the opening of the new tunnel and is expected to take about two years.
The tunnel project is part of the Highway 99 Tunnel Program, which also includes other improvements along the corridor, such as adding bus lanes on the shoulder, widening the exit ramp and rebuilding an interchange.
Canada is a territory in which Deltana Engineering has acquired significant experience in providing support to bidding consortia through the estimation of quantities and preparation of the BOQ. We have already provided support to several projects in which the awarded consortium has been effectively supported by our technical team. The most important thing is that we know and collaborate in all phases of the project, from bidding and design to execution, by supporting the technical office of the project with a clear holistic vision that allows us to understand the project in its entirety. Not only in the elaboration of the BOQ, but also in the management of BIM models, for their parameterization, coordination, updating or scaling, the realization of Shop drawings in all disciplines, MEP, structures, architecture, Urbanism or landscaping and the updating of quantities during the execution of the work. In short, our Back Office Construction Engineering (BOCE) approach positions us as an engineering firm that adds value to the project.
Image: https://www.enr.com/ext/resources/2023/10/31/Fraser_River_Tunnel_map_ENR.jpg
