Simon Fraser Bridge - Previous Updates

February 22, 2008 Update

In October, 2007, the Simon Fraser Bridge twinning project received confirmation of a federal funding contribution of up to $18.0 million.  The funding is part of the estimated total project cost of $42-million and comes from a $44-million federal commitment to fund transportation infrastructure projects through the Mountain Pine Beetle Program under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI).

That same month, the Terasen natural gas line was moved, and work began on the bridge approaches using day labour.

Designed by Buckland and Taylor Ltd. of North Vancouver, the construction contract was tendered in the fall, with eight bids received by the closing date of November 11, 2007.  Tenders ranged as high as $55-million.  In the end, it was Surespan Construction Limited of North Vancouver that was awarded the contract for a price of $31.6-million.

Work began on site in mid-December 2007 with the driving of piles on both the north and south abutments.  The ministry expects the bridge to be completed by August of 2009.

June 19, 2007 Update

As of mid-June, 2007, the bridge design was approximately 70% complete; trees have been cleared from the south approach, allowing access to the river; utilities are being moved.

In the fall of 2006, proposals for the design/build contract for the twinning of the Simon Fraser Bridge and reconstruction of the Highway 97/Queensway Interchange came in substantially over budget.  As a result, the contract was not awarded. 

In an effort to identify potential cost reductions, a value analysis was conducted and other possible delivery methods were explored. 

A new strategy was developed to separate the design and construction components into separate tenders in order to gain better value through greater competition and less risk to bidders.  Some work would also be done by day labour using local resources which may offer additional savings.

Immediately thereafter, the ministry called for proposals to complete the design and engineering work with a view toward having the bridge design complete and ready to tender by the fall of 2007. 

Eleven engineering companies responded to the ministry’s Request for Qualifications, and from those, three were short-listed to provide detailed proposals.  As a result of that process, Buckland and Taylor Limited of North Vancouver was selected in February to complete the bridge design for a contract value of $1,184,005.

Once the bridge design is complete, a contract for the construction of the bridge is expected to be tendered this fall.

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July 27, 2006 Update

The Simon Fraser Bridge to Sintich Road Four-lane project has been separated into two component projects.

1. Simon Fraser Bridge and Queensway Intersection (Design-Build)
2. Sintich Road to Fraser River (Design-bid-build)

The following is an update on the four-laning portion Sintich Road to Fraser River.

On Thursday, July 13 th, the Ministry of Transportation convened a meeting with property owners and key stakeholders from Sintich Road to Continental Way Overpass who may be impacted by the project or its outcome. Our purpose was three-fold:

• To explain and inform of Ministry plans to four-lane this section of highway
• To advise of work that has been undertaken and what work needs to be done
• To provide an opportunity for people to provide input, ask questions and/or express concerns

Participants were invited to view the presentation graphics and chat with members of the project team to ensure their interests were known. This feedback will prove valuable to the project team for the design stage. Before finalizing the design, the Ministry intends to liaise with stakeholders in the future to ensure that shared concerns are adequately addressed.

An additional property owner/stakeholder meeting will be scheduled this fall for the section of Highway 97 from Continental Way overpass to the Fraser River.

May 29, 2006 Update

In April, a Request for Qualifications resulted in four submissions. Of those, three have been short-listed and invited to participate in the next stage of the process which is the Request for Proposal (RFP).

The Request for Proposals was issued on May 29th to the following companies:

1. American Bridge Canada Co.
2. Peter Kiewit Sons Co.a
3. SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Ltd.

Those proposals received by the closing date (August 10 th) will then be evaluated by the project team to ensure compliance with the stated terms and conditions.

Price proposals, due by the end of August, will then be opened to determine the lowest bid. This will lead to the selection of a preferred proponent.

Further negotiations will culminate in a fixed-price contract being awarded to the preferred proponent who will then become the prime contractor.

Simon Fraser Bridge Project Overview

Functional Design

• Functional Design Report - April 2005 (PDF 18.7 MB)
  
  
• Appendix C - Highway 97 Concept Drawings
  • Drawing Set - Plans - "100 Series" (PDF - 3,515 KB)
  • Drawing Set - Profiles - "200 Series" (PDF - 1,906 KB)
  • Drawing Set - Geometrics and Laning - "400 Series" (PDF -1,897 KB)
  • Drawing NR-037-301 - Typical Sections (PDF - 269 KB)
  
  
• Appendix E - Simon Fraser Bridge Preferred Option Functional Design Drawings
  (PDF - 572 KB)

Project information boards displayed at November 9, 2005 Public Open House

• History, improvements, procurement and next steps (PDF 591KB)

Concept-Only Drawings (actual roadway design phase in fall 2006)

• Highway 97 and Queensway Typical Cross-Sections (PDF 83 KB)
• Highway 97 and Queensway Laning & Geometrics (PDF 1 MB)

March 20, 2006 Update

In March 2006, the Ministry of Transportation issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify companies capable of undertaking the design and construction of the Queensway interchange, the new Fraser River crossing and the rehabilitation of the existing Simon Fraser Bridge.

The RFQ is the first of a two-stage procurement process. A shortlist of up to three design/build proponents will be identified through the RFQ. Only qualified bidders will be invited to submit a proposal to design and build the Simon Fraser to Sintich four-laning project. The RFQ will close on April 19th.

Once the short listed proponents are ascertained, a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued. The RFP will close in July, whereupon the proposals will first be evaluated and a preferred proponent identified. Negotiations on the specifics of the contract will follow and an agreement should be finalized by the fall of 2006.

Once the design-build contractor is on board, further consultations with stakeholder groups will occur.