Metrolinx Selects BCP for Bowmanville Extension

Looking east at the new Simcoe Street south bridge on the Lakeshore East Line Bowmanville Extension. Metrolinx rendering

Metrolinx has selected Bowmanville Construction Partners (BCP), a joint venture of Ledcor CMI Ltd. and Dragados Canada Inc., as construction manager for the Bowmanville Extension project, which will extend the GO Transit Lakeshore East Line nearly 12 miles past its current service terminus in Oshawa. The agency is projecting 17,000 daily trips on the extension by 2041, “connecting more of Durham Region to fast two-way, all-day rail service, helping get customers where they need to go easier than ever before.”

The Bowmanville Extension project includes new track and signal infrastructure; seven new bridges, including a new rail alignment over Highway 401; bridge reconstruction and existing bridge modifications; utility relocations; and highway/rail grade crossing upgrades. It compliments Metrolinx’s larger GO Expansion Program, which is “transforming the GO Rail network into a modern, two-way, all-day rapid transit system, providing more frequent service, more stations, cleaner technology, and more connections,” the agency noted.

During the development stage, the BCP “will work closely with Metrolinx on potential solutions to design problems, reducing the risk of potential delays and help getting the project built faster,” the agency said. “It also allows for greater innovation, efficiency and quality management throughout the design process. For example, construction managers have an expertise in construction means and methods, so they can provide early advice on access points and laydown areas for the project, helping get shovels in the ground even quicker. Near the end of the development stage, the construction manager will provide an estimated construction schedule and a target price for the proposed work. Metrolinx and the construction manager will then negotiate terms of a construction contract, including costs and other logistics.”

Metrolinx added that BCP will “provide engineering feedback throughout the design process and construction advisory services during the design development to mitigate construction feasibility issues and re-work; identify additional due diligence requirements to reduce risk of unknowns that might arise during construction, and potential early works that could be completed to streamline major civil works; and obtain more accurate cost and schedule estimates for the work to be completed, leveraging real time market and supply chain data.”

Metrolinx said it continues to advance discussions with third parties to deliver the four GO stations proposed for Thornton’s Corners East, Ritson Road, Courtice and Bowmanville through the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) program along the Bowmanville Extension. The TOC program “seeks to leverage the value of Metrolinx’s transit network and service to have third parties fund the design and construction of new GO station infrastructure for Metrolinx to own and operate.”

Metrolinx has  updated environmental studies for the project and will be seeking community input as part of the Transit Project Assessment Process Environmental Project Report (EPR) addendum.

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