Transportation
British Columbia Picks Team for $3B Fraser River Tunnel Replacement
The planned replacement crossing would have more lanes than the George Massey Tunnel and be built to modern seismic standards.
Rendering courtesy Province of British Columbia
Plans to replace the George Massey Tunnel under the Fraser River in British Columbia are advancing with the Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry’s selection of Cross Fraser Partnership to collaborate on the development leading to a design-build agreement for the estimated $3-billion project.
Cross Fraser Partnership is a team of Bouygues Construction Canada Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Pomerleau BC Inc. and Arcadis Canada Inc. It beat out two other teams that had been shortlisted to submit proposals for the new river crossing.
The plan is to build a 2,625-ft-long, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel to replace the current four-lane George Massey Tunnel carrying British Columbia Highway 99 under the Fraser River between Deas Island and Richmond, B.C., which is immediately south of Vancouver. The contractor would also be responsible for replacing the Deas Slough Bridge between Deas Island and Delta, B.C.
Officials say the project is necessary because the Massey Tunnel is a bottleneck where the flow of traffic slows to an average of 30 km per hour. They hope to increase that average speed to 80 km per hour with the new tunnel, which will also have dedicated public transit lanes in each direction and a separated path for cyclists and pedestrians. The new tunnel would also meet modern seismic performance standards, unlike the current tunnel which opened in 1959.
“With this team in place, we can finalize the project design and ready it for construction, helping us improve travel for people moving along Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta,” said Rob Fleming, minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, in a statement.
An environmental assessment is currently underway. British Columbia officials aim to start major construction in 2026 for completion in 2030.
Meanwhile, work has been continuing on a related project nearby along Highway 99. Flatiron Constructors Canada Ltd. is leading work on the $63.5-million Steveston Interchange Project, which is aimed at improving the flow of traffic along Highway 99 and adding transit connections. Last month, crews started erecting 21 concrete girders for the first half of the new interchange, and officials say work is on schedule to complete next year.
