INDUSTRY NEWS
INDUSTRY>NEWS Aecon, Strabag teams top bidders to build tunnels for two Toronto transit projects Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have singled out two build teams as the First Negotiations Proponents (FNPs) for a pair of upcoming transit tunnel construction projects. From a shortlist of three bidders announced last August, the two agencies ranked the West End Connectors as the top bidder for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project. The team consists of Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Dragados Canada Inc. and Ghella Canada Ltd. as project leads. A consortia headed by Strabag AG was named as the top bidder for the Scarborough Subway Extension, through a separate procurement process running on the same timeline. Each design, build and finance contract covers just tunnel construction for the respective project, with separate tenders for station construction, tunnel fit-out and commissioning of the transit
Underground work on Avenue Station, a stop on the original Eglinton Crosstown, in 2018. The extension will stretch the line 9.2 kilometres west
lines to come later. IO and Metrolinx said selecting the FNPs is the first step in its negotiations process for the projects. The Crown agencies will now move forward with finalizing the details with each consortia “to ensure that each team has a proposal that provides the best value for the province.” If the negotiations progress as planned, the province and the two build teams are expected to reach financial close on their contracts this spring. The final financial details for the projects are not yet available, but IO lists each project as worth more than $1 billion in its most
recent P3 Market Update. Tunnelling for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension will cover roughly six kilometres, while the Scarborough Subway Extension requires a 7.8 kilometre tunnel. The construction teams will be responsible for digging the tunnels, building launch and extraction shafts and constructing headwalls for emergency exit buildings and stations. They will also need to source tunnel boring machines and install segmental precast concrete tunnel liners. Early work on both projects will get underway shortly, with tunnel boring expected to start next year.
EllisDon, PCL teams shortlisted for major Thunder Bay jail replacement project Two construction consortia have been picked to prepare bids for a major project to replace the jail and corrections centre in Thunder Bay, Ont. On April 1, Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of the Solicitor General said the EllisDon Infrastructure Justice and the Fengate PCL Progress Partners build teams have been shortlisted for the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex project. The two pre-qualified teams will prepare bids in the coming months as part of the request for proposals process. Replacing an aging site in the Northern Ontario city, the new Thunder Bay Correctional Complex will include 325 beds, new automation and technology, while offering improved living conditions. It’s being built under a design, build, finance and main-
tain contract. Costs for the project have not been finalized, but Infrastructure Ontario estimated the work will run between $500 million and $1 billion in its latest P3 Market Update. The next step in procurement advances a process started in 2018. A separate, but related contract was handed down last month, with the province tapping Bird Construction to take on modular expansions at the Thunder Bay site, as well as at the Kenora, Ont. jail. That work will increase the capacity at both facilities to address overcrowding while the new prison complex is built over the next several years. Infrastructure Ontario expects to pick a winning bidder for the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex project by next spring. on-sitemag.com / 7
