The C$4.15bn (US$3.14bn) eight-lane immersed tube tunnel will replace the existing George Massey Tunnel on Highway 99. It will have three vehicle lanes and a dedicated transit lane in each direction, with a separate corridor for cyclists and pedestrians.
The project will be delivered through a collaborative progressive design-build with target price model that will ensure early contractor involvement through a Design Early Works Agreement (DEWA) and effective and manageable risk allocation in the final Design-Build Agreement (DBA).
Project is being delivered by the Transportation Investment Corporation for Canada’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The RFQ deadline is September 14. The DEWA RFP is expected to be issued on October 23, and the DBA RFP in spring 2024. It is anticipated the contract will be awarded in 2025 and construction will begin in 2026.
In February last year Cowi was awarded the C$15m contract as the owner’s engineer for the tunnel. Cowi will conceptualise and oversee removal of the original four-lane George Massey Tunnel, which the company designed in 1959, and construction of its eight-lane replacement. The new tunnel will include flood control systems, ensuring it can remain operational during extreme river flows and in the face of rising sea levels.
