IO, Metrolinx award rail tunnel contract; shortlist grade separation teams

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
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Toronto Tunnel Partners (TTP) is the recipient of a contract with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx to design, build and finance the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project for the GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program.  

 

The fixed-price contract is worth CA$116.9 million (US$90.6 million), officials said.

“Ontario is moving forward to build the infrastructure we need to deliver GO [RER]. Improving service on the Kitchener GO corridor will make it easier for people to use public transit to travel to work or school or for appointments,” said Steven Del Duca, Ontario minister of Transportation. “The 401 Rail Tunnel Project, which will also support potential high speed rail service between Toronto and Windsor, is another step forward in building the transportation system Ontario needs to continue to grow and prosper.”

Members of the TTP team include:

  • Applicant Lead: EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc.
  • Construction: EllisDon Civil Ltd. and STRABAG Inc.
  • Design: WSP Canada Inc., Dr. Sauer & Partners, Amec Foster Wheeler
  • Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc.

TTP’s selection is the result of a procurement process overseen by a third party fairness advisor, officials said.

As reported Oct. 25 by RT&S, IO and Metrolinx selected a consortium led by EllisDon Capital Inc. and STRABAG Inc., as the preferred proponent for the Highway 401 Rail Tunnel project.

“The province continues to provide faster, more frequent service by implementing GO [RER] in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, one of the largest transit infrastructure investments in North America,” said Bob Chiarelli, minister of Infrastructure. “Our investments in public transit and transportation across Ontario are managing congestion, connecting communities and giving people more travel options, as we support economic development for all Ontarians.”

The project scope entails construction of a new tunnel under Highways 401 and 409 to accommodate two tracks, future signaling and communications infrastructure, and replacing footings of retaining walls that support the ramp from eastbound Highway 409 to eastbound Highway 401.

Construction is set to launch in the spring of 2018, with an expected substantial completion date in late summer 2021. TTP said it anticipates about 50 workers will be on-site at the peak of construction, with most workers coming from the Toronto area.

“Building a new tunnel under the 401 will allow us to expand service on the Kitchener GO corridor to make it easier for our current and future customers between Toronto and Kitchener to choose GO Transit as a way to travel,” said Metrolinx President and CEO Phil Verster. “We are excited to be working with the Toronto Tunnel Partners consortium to build this new infrastructure to add more track to deliver our future electrified 15-minute all-day service in core areas to get our customers to their destinations faster and easier.”

In other IO news, three teams have been shortlisted to design, build and finance the Davenport Diamond project, which will construct a grade separation between the north/south GO Rail corridor and east/west Canadian Pacific Rail corridor to minimize delays to GO service, as well as other improvements.

The three teams include: 

Davenport Construction Partners

  • Applicant Lead: Dragados Canada, Inc., Bot Infrastructure Ltd.
  • Construction Team: Dragados Canada, Inc., Bot Infrastructure Ltd., Black & McDonald
  • Design Team: COWI North American Ltd. (Design Lead), IBI Group Professional Services (Canada) Inc., Dissing+Weitling, Peto MacCallum Ltd., SENER SES Canada Inc.
  • Financial Advisor: ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., National Bank Financial Inc.

Graham Commuter Rail Solution

  • Applicant Lead: Graham Capital Partners LP, Graham Construction and Engineering LP
  • Construction Team: Graham Construction and Engineering LP
  • Design Team: LEA Consulting Ltd. (Design Lead), exp Services Inc., International Bridge Technologies, Brown & Storey Architects Inc.
  • Financial Advisor: Graham Capital Partners LP

Steelhead

  • Applicant Lead: Dufferin Construction Company (a division of CRH Canada Group Inc.), Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc. (a subsidiary of Aecon Group Inc.)
  • Construction Team: Dufferin Construction Company, Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc.
  • Design Team: Mott MacDonald Canada Limited (Design Lead), DTAH, Pedelta, Golder Associates Ltd., R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited
  • Financial Advisor: Bank of Nova Scotia

 

Officials note the teams were chosen based on criteria such as their construction capability, experience, qualified personnel and financial ability to deliver a project of this size and scope. The teams will be invited to respond to a request for proposals in early 2018.

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