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A shortlist consisting of a half dozen major contractors are preparing bids for Segment 1 of Calgary’s new Green Line. The city shortlisted three construction teams and issued a request for proposals for the first phase of work on the approximately 20-kilometre light rail project in late July. The call for bids followed a month-long request for qualifications period. City council sanctioned the P3 project in mid-June. The cost estimate for the transit line totals $5.5 billion, which includes $4.9 billion for construction and $640 million in financing costs to the city. The three consortia preparing bids for Segment 1 of the project are made up of some of the largest domestic contractors, as well as several international firms. Graham-PCL Transit Partners, CityLink Partners and urbanTRANSIT will work through the competitive bidding process over the next year or so. Calgary anticipates picking a winning bidder for the design-build-finance contract next summer, with construction starting in late 2021. Segment 1 of the new rail line runs from Shepard Station (126 Avenue S.E.) at the south end of Calgary, to the Elbow River, just east of downtown. It will run mostly at-grade and include nine stations. An approximately one kilometre section of elevated track is planned between Inglewood/Ramsay to 26 Avenue stations. The following phases, Segment 2A and 2B, will take the rail line underground through downtown and back above ground north of the Bow River. Construction is scheduled to start in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Work on all three stages of the project is expected to create more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The city describes the LRT as the largest job creation project
PHOTO:: CITY OF CALGARY
Three construction teams working on bids for first phase of $5.5B Calgary Green Line
A map of the planned light rail route.
in Calgary, noting more than 100 enabling works are already complete or underway. Once complete, approximately 65,000 Calgarians are expected to use the transit line each day. Planners also forecast 30,000 tons saved in greenhouse has emissions each year as a result of the line. Future expansions for the $5.5 billion LRT project are already in the works. Eventually city planners expect the Green Line to run 46 kilometres, with later phases of work stretching the line to the north and southeast. Stage 1 of the Green Line, encompassing segments 1, 2A and 2B, is scheduled to open in 2027.
LEAD TEAM MEMBERS Graham-PCL Transit Partners Graham and PCL Construction CityLink Partners Aecon and Dragados urbanTRANSIT Salini Impregilo and Hitachi Rail STS
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