$2.34 billion of highway improvement work is underway from the Fraser Valley to the Sumas Prairie.
It is Phase 3A of the Province’s Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program, a multi-phase program to improve goods movement and travel along Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley through the Sumas Prairie to Chilliwack.
Two more tenders are on track for release, including a new interchange at 232nd Street and highway widening for HOV lanes, along with a replacement to the existing CP Rail overhead.
The Whole Story:
The next phase of multi-billion dollar Highway 1 expansion project has begun.
The project will expand Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley to the Sumas Prairie.
Officials say the work will relieve traffic congestion and accommodate more sustainable transportation options in the region.
Accelerated advance work along the Highway 1 median east of 264th Street has begun, with work delivered by local companies including Kwantlen First Nation. People travelling Highway 1 will see crews in the median undertaking utility relocation, median soil removal, tree clearing and preloading of soil. This work will prepare the area between 264th Street and Mt. Lehman Road for the addition of high occupancy vehicle (HOV)/electric vehicle lanes and other multi-modal upgrades.
“The Fraser Valley is growing fast and we are building infrastructure that people need,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “People need to be able to get to work and back home without facing gridlock. We’re taking action to relieve congestion for drivers, to make goods movement more efficient and to accommodate more sustainable transportation options.”
The widening of Highway 1 between 264th Street and Mt. Lehman Road has an approved budget of $2.34 billion. This is Phase 3A of the Province’s Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program, a multi-phase program to improve goods movement and travel along Highway 1 in the Fraser Valley through the Sumas Prairie to Chilliwack.
The centrepiece of Phase 3A will be a new 264th Street Interchange, reconfigured to better serve road users. Officials say the 264th Street area is highly travelled during morning and afternoon hours, including a high volume of commercial vehicles heading to and from the border crossing. Along with more efficient goods movement, the new interchange will include improvements for active transportation, truck parking and public transit. The new interchange is in procurement, with construction expected to begin in 2024.
The 264th Street Interchange and associated highway widening is one of the three major construction contracts that make up Phase 3A. The other contracts will be upgrades to the Mt. Lehman Interchange and 3.7 kilometres of highway widening, and replacement of the Bradner Road overpass with 3.9 kilometres of highway widening. These contracts will go to tender in 2024. Completion of Phase 3A is expected in 2029.
Work is underway on Phase 2 between 216th and 264th streets, with a new Glover Road overpass currently under construction and completion expected in summer 2024.
Two more tenders are on track for release, including a new interchange at 232nd Street and highway widening for HOV lanes, along with a replacement to the existing CP Rail overhead.
Further east along Highway 1 between Mt. Lehman Road and Highway 11, advanced site-preparation work is planned for early 2024 ahead of construction on that phase of the program.
The scope of the program has expanded and a fourth phase extends through the Sumas Prairie into Chilliwack. Officials explained that this future phase of the Fraser Valley Highway 1 Improvement Program through the Sumas Prairie will address the need for improvements to infrastructure to make it more resilient to changing climate.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has committed $30 million to an integrated planning study, which is happening in parallel with flood-mitigation strategy planning work. This study will identify potential future improvements along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor between the Sumas Prairie and Chilliwack.
Vanessa Werden is a partner at construction law firm Jenkins Marzban Logan LLP. Named one of the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction in 2020, she is licensed to practice in B.C., Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Ontario. Earlier this year she was ranked by Lexpert as one of two “Leading Lawyers to Watch” in Construction Law in BC, and one of five “Lawyers to Watch” in Infrastructure Law in Canada.
On November 10, 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its ruling in a case called R. v. Greater Sudbury (City). The case arises from a fatal accident and concerns the proper interpretation of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (the “Ontario Act”).
In September 2015, a pedestrian was struck and killed in Sudbury, Ontario, by an employee of Interpaving Limited who was driving a road grader in reverse, through an intersection. The City of Sudbury had contracted with Interpaving Limited to act as a constructor to repair a downtown water main. Contrary to a provincial regulation, no fence was placed between the construction project workplace and the public intersection and no signaller was assisting the Interpaving worker. In separate proceedings, Interpaving was convicted of breaching its duty as an employer under section 25(1)(c) of the Act to ensure that the measures and procedures prescribed in the applicable regulation were carried out on the project site.
The issue before the Supreme Court of Canada was whether the City was liable as an “employer” for breaching the same duty. Section 1(1) of the Ontario Act defines an employer as “a person who employs or contracts for the services of one or more workers”. The City denied that it was an employer because it lacked control of the repair work and had delegated control to Interpaving.
The Supreme Court of Canada held that the City was liable as an employer for breaching its obligations under section 25(1)(c) of the Ontario Act. The Court determined that nothing in the text, context or purpose of the Ontario Act requires the Ministry to establish control over the workers or workplace to prove that the City breached its obligations as an employer. In its reasons, the Court confirmed the following in respect of the application of the Ontario Act:
Where an owner who contracts for the services of a constructor on a construction project is prosecuted for a breach of s. 25(1)(c), a court must first consider whether the Ministry has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the Act applied to the accused because the accused was an employer under s. 1(1) of the Act. An owner is an employer if it employed workers at a workplace where an alleged breach of s. 25(1)(c) occurred, or contracted for the services of a worker at that workplace (including for the services of a constructor). The Ministry is not required to prove that the owner had control over the workplace or the workers there. It is clear from the text of the definition of employer that control is not an element that the Ministry must prove to establish that an accused is subject to the duties of an employer.
[Emphasis added]
The commentary by construction lawyers in Ontario has been in the nature of concern, calls for legislative reform, and even panic. Much of the concern about the Court’s reasoning is a lack of clarity on what will or will not constitute a sustainable due diligence defence on the part of an owner. The Court stated that in the construction context, it may be open to a judge to find that the owner took every reasonable precaution because the owner decided to delegate control of the project and responsibility for workplace safety to a more experienced constructor. Relevant considerations might include whether the owner pre-screened the constructor before hiring the constructor to ascertain, for example, whether the constructor has superior expertise, a track record free of prior convictions, and the capacity to ensure compliance. An owner may argue that its relative inexperience with workplace safety was why it chose to delegate control over a project to a more sophisticated constructor.
In British Columbia, occupational health and safety is regulated by the Workers Compensation Act (the “BC Act”) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. In the BC Act, employer is defined to include, “every person having in their service under a contract of hiring or apprenticeship, whether the contract is written or oral, express or implied, a person engaged in work in or about an industry.”
In BC, the concept that a project owner could be deemed by WorkSafeBC to be an employer is not new. However, owners who have been found liable under the BC Act are not necessarily forced to pay, as WorkSafeBC has discretion to relieve an employer from liability if satisfied that the default was excusable. Similar to the due diligence defences suggested by the Supreme Court, there are defences available to project owners in BC who have taken reasonable and appropriate steps to delegate authority for health and safety to a contractor.
Where an owner has engaged a contractor to do work at its property, they should always seek a clearance letter from WorkSafeBC to avoid potential exposure to premium payments. Even when owners have retained an independent contractor, it is important that they do their due diligence to ensure that the contractor is in good standing with WorkSafeBC. Owners who fail to do so can become jointly liable with the contractor for unpaid WorkSafeBC insurance premiums. Owners can confirm a contractor’s status by getting a clearance letter from WorkSafeBC.
Finally, consider that most forms of CCDC contract provide that the contractor is responsible for construction safety. For example, General Condition 9.4.1 of the CCDC 2 provides:
9.4.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for establishing, initiating, maintaining, and supervising all health and safety precautions and programs in connection with the performance of the Work in accordance with the applicable health and safety legislation.
This General Condition establishes that the contractor is solely responsible for construction safety at the project. That responsibility, however, may differ where the owner engages other contractors under separate contracts or employs own forces to perform work. The owner and its consultants also must abide by safety regulations at the site. There is nuance to workplace safety, and when in doubt, and particularly when deviating from the traditional general contracting delivery method, seek legal advice to ensure compliance and make sure you understand your obligations and exposure to risk and liability in the context of the selected contracting and project delivery model.
Key Takeaways:
Ledcor will twin 46 km of Highway 3 between the town of Taber and the hamlet of Burdett.
It is the first of eight phases to twin the route.
Construction will begin in spring 2024, with completion anticipated in 2025.
The Whole Story:
Ledcor has been awarded the first contract to begin twinning Highway 3.
Highway 3 is a vital economic corridor and east-west link, and the first section of the highway being twinned sees approximately 3,900 vehicles per day. Through $179.7 million in provincial funding, this first phase will twin Highway 3 between the town of Taber and the hamlet of Burdett. The contract for the 46-kilometre project was awarded to Ledcor Highways Ltd.
“Highway 3 is a key economic corridor in southern Alberta between Saskatchewan and British Columbia, south of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is critical infrastructure for Alberta’s growing agri-business industry and will enhance tourism and improve safety in the region as well,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors
Pre-construction work, including acquiring the right of way and relocating utilities, is underway and is scheduled for completion this year. Construction will begin in spring 2024, with completion anticipated in 2025. The project is expected to support 755 jobs.
“I am excited to see this important project get underway. Twinning this stretch of Highway 3 is critical to supporting jobs, growth and the agri-food processing corridor in the region,” said Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber-Warner. “This project has been a priority of mine and I want to thank Minister Dreeshen for his commitment to twinning this vital east-west link.”
Twinning Highway 3 from border to border will be completed in eight phases to limit costs and minimize disruption to people and businesses along the route. The other seven sections of the project are in various phases, including consultation, planning and design, land acquisition, environmental assessment, engineering or contract tendering.
“This is great news for our association members and municipalities all along the agri-food corridor, in addition to all southern Albertans who will be ecstatic when dirt begins to move next spring,” said Bill Chapman, president, Highway 3 Twinning Development Association. “Our association extends our thanks to Premier Danielle Smith and Devin Dreeshen, minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, for your commitment to this vital project.”
The eight phases of the project include:
Phase 1, 46 kilometres – twin Highway 3 between Taber and Burdett
Phase 3, 15 kilometres – east of Seven Persons to Medicine Hat
Phase 4, 47 kilometres – Blairmore to east of Highway 6 at Pincher Creek
Phase 5, 28 kilometres – east of Bow Island to east of Seven Persons
Phase 6, 23 kilometres – east of Burdett to east of Bow Island
Phase 7, 38 kilometres – Pincher Creek to west of Fort Macleod
Phase 8, eight kilometres – Alberta/B.C. border to Highway 3X
Key Takeaways:
The 34-year-old stadium is getting a $300M upgrade.
PCL has already conducted major demolition work the lower bowl and at the field level.
A total of 2.4 million pounds of structural steel has been fabricated offsite and will be installed at Rogers Centre to complete the project.
The work is expected to go through April next year.
The Whole Story:
PCL is going into extra innings on the Rogers Centre renovation project. The contractor announced it has been awarded the second phase of work to renovate the home of the Blue Jays in Toronto.
The second phase of work is part of a more than $300 million multi-year renovation that aims to transform the 34-year-old multi-purpose stadium into a ballpark through a series of projects focused on modernizing the fan experience and building world-class player facilities for the Toronto Blue Jays.
“PCL and our partners are passionate about bringing the Toronto Blue Jays’ reimagined vision for Rogers Centre to life,” says Monique Buckberger, vice president and district manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc., Toronto. “Following the complex, fast-track renovation completed in just six months for the 2023 season, the second phase of the project will deliver an even greater volume of work in the same time frame, as the 100 level seating bowl is demolished and rebuilt to bring Blue Jays fans an experience designed specifically for baseball.”
The first phase of the project achieved substantial completion on March 31, 2023 and opened to fans on April 11 for the 2023 season Blue Jays Home Opener.
The second phase of work features a reimagined 100 level seating bowl and structure (from foul pole to foul pole) designed specifically for baseball viewing, with an all-new Blue Jays clubhouse in addition to three new premium clubs and seating sections. The 100 level seating bowl features:
A more comfortable experience with additional legroom, modern-shaped seats with slats on the back that provide more airflow, wider seats between the dugouts, cupholders throughout, adaptable raisable armrest options and handrails in every aisle.
Greater variety of seating options including different vantage points from new sections, accessible field level seats plus premium seating experiences.
Designed specifically for baseball viewing with seats oriented towards the infield, improved sightlines with less obstruction and new seats closer to the action as a result of the remodeled bowl structure.
The three new premium clubs include:
Batting Tunnel Club located behind home plate – third base side.
Home Plate Club located directly behind home plate.
The Lounge located behind home plate – first base side.
A rendering shows a reimagined baseline at Rogers Centre. – Toronto Blue Jays
Crews have already completed demolition work for the lower bowl and at the field level. At the peak of demolition and excavation work, 10 excavators were on site with 344 dump trucks cycling in and out of Rogers Centre over a temporary bridge in one day.
With a fast-tracked construction timeline, formwork for the new build began and the first new concrete was poured on the same day demolition was completed in October.
Approximately 500 truckloads worth of concrete are expected to be poured to complete the project. On Nov. 9, a major piece of mechanical equipment was delivered by crane from Bremner Blvd. into Rogers Centre through an opening in the roof.
The first structural steel column was put up on November 13. A total of 2.4 million pounds of structural steel has been fabricated offsite and will be installed at Rogers Centre to complete the project.
Key Takeaways:
A request for proposals to select a consultant was issued. The consultant will help develop the design parameters and review design submissions.
As many as 10 different designs will be developed.
Standardized designs and plans are expected to be available to local governments by summer 2024.
The Whole Story:
Do you have any ideas for what the perfect home design should be?
B.C. officials want to know.
The province is embarking on a project to create new standardized designs for small-scale, multi-unit homes, such as townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes. They hope the designs will help builders and developers create housing faster and cheaper.
“In order to address our housing crisis, we must use innovative solutions to enable housing to be built faster,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “Having standardized building designs available can help streamline the permitting process. We will work to add additional designs in the coming years to ensure our communities remain vibrant and have a variety of housing options.”
Through the new Standardized Housing Design Project, the province is creating new standardized, customizable residential designs for small-scale, multi-unit housing built on single lots. Officials stated that the designs can be adopted by local governments and offered to builders and homeowners at a significantly below-market cost to expedite permitting and development. The province is seeking to engage a consultant team to provide expert advice on the development of these designs.
Officials explained that standardized designs can substantially streamline the permitting process to make it easier for local governments to give building-permit approvals quickly and save builders and homeowners design costs. They also assist smaller local governments that may not have the resources to develop standardized designs to help approve developments efficiently and quickly.
The move follows the recent introduction of legislation that, if passed, will allow three to four units on land currently zoned for single-family homes and duplexes, and as many as six units near bus stops with frequent transit service. During the consultation process, local governments suggested a catalogue of design options needs to be available to support small-scale developers, builders and homeowners to build these new homes.
A request for proposals to select a consultant was issued Nov. 15, 2023, for the first phase of the project and will close Dec. 13, 2023. The consultant’s scope of work will include collaborative engagement with industry professionals and local governments to develop the design parameters that can be used to create standardized housing designs. The consultant will also support the province in reviewing the draft and completed designs.
The province will work with the consultant for nine months, with the goal to procure design services by spring 2024. Standardized designs and plans are expected to be available to local governments by summer 2024.
As many as 10 different designs will be developed. The designs will comply with the BC Building Code and are expected to be as close as possible to building-permit ready, recognizing minor amendments may be required by local designers or architects to take into account specific site conditions. The designs will be created for various lot sizes and configurations to be widely applicable throughout B.C. and are expected to help builders and homeowners add increased density to their existing properties quickly and more affordably.
In addition to the housing designs, a separate project is underway to develop guidebooks that can act as a blueprint for local governments to implement a pre-approval process and provide guidance to homeowners and small-scale builders about how to add density to their lots with standardized designs.
Two years following a catastrophic atmospheric river, B.C.’s transportation network is coming back stronger.
On the two-year anniversary of the disaster, B.C. officials announced that permanent repairs to Coquihalla Highway 5 are complete after flooding washed it out.
The repaired highway features six new climate-resilient bridges built in place of the ones that were lost in November 2021. The six bridge spans located at three different locations have been rebuilt to handle extreme weather.
The new permanent bridges are now finished at Bottletop Bridge, 50 kilometres south of Merritt, and Jessica Bridge, 20 kilometres north of Hope. The bridges at Juliet, 53 kilometres south of Merritt, were completed earlier this year.
Reflecting on disaster
The BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association (BCRB&HCA) reflected on the atmospheric river and the spotlight it put on the construction sector.
“Our member companies rose to the challenge despite an incredible set of circumstances, and pulled off the unthinkable given the scope of repairs,” said Kelly Scott, president, BCRB&HCA. “This success story is a showcase for our members’ fortitude and dedication, as well as a reminder of the benefits displayed by strong partnerships.”
Coquihalla Highway 5 was closed to regular vehicle traffic on Nov. 14, 2021, due to damage caused by an atmospheric river. The rain caused flooding and washouts between Hope and Merritt. More than 20 sites spanning 130 kilometres were damaged. This included six bridges where spans completely collapsed or were damaged.
More than 300 workers used 200 pieces of equipment and moved more than 400,000 cubic metres of gravel, rock and other material to repair and reopen Highway 5 to commercial vehicle traffic in 35 days, on Dec. 20, 2021, and to all traffic on Jan. 19, 2022.
Adapting to climate change
Scott added that the damage the weather did to the province underscores the challenges the region faces and the necessity of resilient infrastructure,
“The impact of climate change on infrastructure in British Columbia in recent years has been profound,” said Scott. “It’s demonstrated that now is the time to invest in climate resilient transportation infrastructure throughout B.C., to meet our needs today and prepare for what the future holds. That’s why programs like The RoadShow will be critical, so that we fill key roles that maintain the infrastructure that is the backbone of this province.”
The 2021 atmospheric river caused the Juliet Bridge on Highway 5 to collapse. – Province of B.C.
The road building community and others instrumental in the rebuild effort were highlighted by the province in its announcement.
“Today, we are honouring the efforts of British Columbians who worked to rebuild after the atmospheric river event, two years ago,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “Thank you to the Nlaka’pamux communities, Silyx Nation, Peters First Nation and Yale First Nation along with their monitors, for their support through the washout and rebuild process; and to the many contractors, unions, ministry and road-maintenance staff who worked to rebuild this piece of highway that is so important to the movement of goods in our province.”
Rebuilding with resilience
The new bridges are built to withstand high water levels by using deep-pile footings and longer spans. Large rock protection has been added to protect the bridges from erosion and scour. Trees, shrubs and grasses have been planted to encourage stream-side re-vegetation and support overall restoration of aquatic and land habitat.
KEA5, a joint venture between Kiewit Infrastructure British Columbia and Emil Anderson Construction, completed the bridges two months ahead of schedule.
The Bottletop Bridge on Highway 5 was also severely damaged in the 2021 flooding event. – Province of B.C.
Officials added that repairs to highways damaged in the floods are progressing well across southwestern B.C. In addition to the completion of the full rebuild of Highway 5, two of the three bridge replacements on Highway 1 are underway at Nicomen and Falls Creek. Design of the third bridge replacement at Tank hill is underway with construction expected to start next year. The ministry is working with local First Nation communities to fully re-build Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge. On Vancouver Island, permanent repairs are complete at the Tunnel Hill section of the Malahat that was washed out by flooding.
Key Takeaways:
The facility would produce 135 million batteries annually.
It is being jointly funded by Ottawa, B.C. and Taiwan-based E-One Moli.
With the creation of 450 jobs, E-One Moli would become the largest private-sector employer in Maple Ridge.
E-One Moli says the ‘gigafactory’ will be the world’s first ultra-high power battery plant powered 100% green energy.
The Whole Story:
Plans are underway to build a $1.05-billion lithium-ion battery cell production facility in Maple Ridge, B.C.
The project is a partnership between E-One Moli and the governments of B.C. and Canada. The facility would produce 135 million batteries annually and would be the world’s first ultra-high power battery plant powered 100% by green energy.
“As our province builds a stronger, cleaner economy, we open the door to immense opportunities in the private sector that value B.C. as a centre for innovation, investment and cutting-edge technology,” said Premier David Eby. “The new E-One Moli advanced manufacturing plant will create hundreds of good, local jobs and continue to establish B.C. as a leader in building a clean-energy future.”
With the creation of 450 jobs, E-One Moli would become the largest private-sector employer in Maple Ridge.
The province is contributing as much as $80 million to E-One Moli’s new facility in Maple Ridge, which will anchor the company’s North American production. The production facility will be Western Canada’s first high-performance lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facility, creating a new hub in the global battery component supply chain.
The province’s investment leverages $970 million from the federal government, E-One Moli and private sources. The plant will produce the latest generation of high-performance lithium-ion battery cells found in a wide range of products, including consumer electronics, such as vacuums, power tools, garden trimmers and medical devices.
E-One Moli produces the MOLICEL brand of batteries. – E-One Moli
“British Columbians have long been known for their innovation in the clean-technology space. Today, as we secure a major clean battery manufacturing project in Maple Ridge, we build on that expertise to secure hundreds of middle-class jobs, while fighting climate change,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who was in Maple Ridge for the annoucement. “The world is looking to Canada. When we support projects like E-One Moli’s new facility in Maple Ridge, we bolster Canada’s role as a global clean-tech leader, create good jobs and help keep our air clean.”
François-Philippe Champagne, federal minister of innovation, science and industry, said the new facility will help expand the electrification of consumer products and offer new energy alternatives in sectors such as construction and health care.
“E-One Moli believes in total climate commitment as well as total care commitment and looks forward to producing a pure green battery to support the world’s energy transition,” said Nelson Chang, chairman, E-One Moli Energy (Canada) Limited and E-One Moli Quantum Energy.
As part of BC Hydro’s electrification plan, E-One Moli will be switching some of its plant from natural gas to electricity, as well as participating in the Load Attraction Program aimed at diversifying industries in B.C. wanting to connect to BC Hydro.
According to the province, the project will support the ecosystem development of a domestic critical-minerals supply chain providing a local alternative to the battery products that are predominantly manufactured in Asia.
Key Takeaways:
The Corner Brook Health Partnership team has completed work on new $750M Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Newfoundland and Labrador now has used public-private partnerships for four major infrastructure projects, including Western Memorial.
The Whole Story:
PCL announced that construction has been completed on time and on budget for the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The builder called it the latest public-private partnership (P3) success for the region’s healthcare projects.
“Reaching this important construction milestone at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital is a testament to the collaborative efforts and commitment from everyone involved,” said Marc Pascoli, senior vice president and district manager at PCL. “From recording more than two million worker hours without a lost-time injury, to building one of the largest geothermal heating and cooling systems in a Canadian healthcare project to date, the Corner Brook Health Partnership team put our shared passion to work to bring the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and NL Health Services’ vision to life.
Pascoli called the hospital an important civic landmark and the next step in advanced healthcare for the province.
This month, the new hospital in Corner Brook was officially handed over by the Corner Brook Health Partnership (CBHP) to Dr. Andrew Furey, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. NL Health Services is now in operational control of the facility and will begin the process of moving equipment and staff to the new facility, with the goal of opening the new hospital to the public in spring 2024.
The seven-storey, 600,000 square foot facility has 164 beds, with the same services currently provided at the existing Western Memorial Regional Hospital. The new facility will also host an expanded cancer care program, including radiation services. The new hospital is connected to the 145 bed long-term care home opened in 2020, which was also constructed as a P3 project, combining to form a health care campus in the region.
The new hospital will maintain the same name as its predecessor, Western Memorial Regional Hospital. Earlier this fall, NL Health Services conducted a survey and consulted with community partners to consider options for the name of the new facility and found strong support for the existing name.
PCL noted that in addition to provide modern healthcare amenities, the new facility was designed to be environmentally-friendly infrastructure. The geothermal system in the facility will translate into electricity savings of approximately 4,600,000 kWh annually, which is enough to heat 500 homes for a year.
Key Takeaways:
$1.8 billion in federal and provincial funds combined will go towards creating new housing in Quebec.
The contribution corresponds to nearly 23% of $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund initiative that was launched this summer.
The funds are expected to directly create 8,000 social and affordable housing units.
Quebec has also committed to legislative amendments aimed at speeding up the development process.
The Whole Story:
Quebec and the federal government are joining forces to combat the housing crisis.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an agreement through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), to finance residential projects in the province. Quebec will receive $900 million from Ottawa to get shovels in the ground to create new units.
The contribution corresponds to nearly 23% of the total HAF funding, the aim of which is to add at least 100,000 residential units over and above historical averages across Canada, over four years.
In its November 7 economic and financial update, the Quebec government announced that it will also invest $900 million, bringing the combined total of the two governments’ contribution to $1.8 billion in new funding for housing construction. This investment is expected to directly create 8,000 social and affordable housing units, 500 of which will be earmarked for clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Officials say the agreement will result in the creation of tens of thousands of additional housing units over the next few years in Quebec and will encourage regulatory reforms.
“Quebec is resolutely committed to pursuing its efforts to accelerate the construction of residential units in the province, based on the Act respecting land use planning and development and other provisions,” stated a release from the Government of Canada.
Officials explained that the Quebec government plans to set up an interdepartmental project acceleration unit in co-operation with Quebec municipalities, and will adopt new government policies for land use planning, with housing construction indicators on which municipalities will have to base their targets.
The province intends to propose legislative amendments – these are currently in the drafting phase and will be subject to adoption by the National Assembly – to improve urban densification and facilitate the authorization of residential building construction.
“We’ve heard Canadians and we’re working hard to build more housing, faster,” said Trudeau. “The agreement announced today is historic and supports Quebec’s efforts to ensure that all Quebecers have a safe and affordable place to live. Together with our provincial and municipal partners, we will continue to cut red tape and build the safe, affordable communities that Canadians need and deserve, from coast to coast to coast.”
Key Takeaways:
New proposed legislation would require municipalities to designate Transit Oriented Development Areas (TOD Areas) near transit hubs.
It is expected that approximately 100 TOD Areas will be designated in approximately 30 municipalities throughout B.C. within the first year of the new legislation coming into effect.
Preliminary analysis indicates B.C. could see approximately 100,000 new units in TOD Areas during the next 10 years.
The Whole Story:
B.C. wants to give transit-oriented development a major boost with new legislation.
“Building more homes near transit is good for people, communities, and helps make the most of transit, infrastructure and services,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “But layers of regulations and outdated rules are stopping this kind of development from becoming a reality in too many municipalities. That’s why we are taking action to remove barriers and deliver more transit-oriented communities, faster.”
The proposed legislation would require municipalities to designate Transit Oriented Development Areas (TOD Areas) near transit hubs. These TOD Areas are defined as land within 800 metres of a rapid transit station (e.g., SkyTrain station) and within 400 metres of a bus exchange where passengers transfer from one route to another (e.g., Newton Bus Exchange in Surrey).
The legislation would build on other work underway to facilitate more transit-oriented development. Earlier this year as part of Budget 2023, the province committed approximately $400 million to deliver thousands of units at or near transit over the next 10 to 15 years by accessing land that is suitable to be acquired near transit hubs and developing it.
“We’re working to leverage public lands to build more affordable housing in connected, livable communities,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “This legislation is the next step forward to help remove roadblocks and fast-track more transit-oriented development that works for people in their communities.”
Government officials explained that in some cases in B.C., higher-density neighbourhoods have been established around transit hubs, but in other cases, restrictive zoning bylaws and parking requirements, along with delayed development approvals, continue to slow down the delivery of homes and services near transit hubs.
In these designated TOD Areas, municipalities will be required to:
Permit housing developments that meet provincial standards for allowable height and density. The minimum allowable height and density is based on tiers – at its highest in the centre of the TOD Area – and will differ based on the type of transit hub (SkyTrain stop/bus exchange) and a municipality’s size, population and location.
Remove restrictive parking minimums and allow for parking to be determined by need and demand on a project-by-project basis.
Utilize standards and details in the provincial policy manual to provide consistency in the approach to developing TOD Areas.
Municipalities will still be able to require builders and developers to add parking to accommodate people living with disabilities. Commercial parking requirements will not be affected within TOD Areas. Builders and developers will be able to build as much parking as desired for a project but will not be required to meet a minimum standard of parking units.
Officials noted that modeling future scenarios cannot account for unforeseen circumstances, the changing nature of housing, real-estate markets and other factors, but preliminary analysis indicates B.C. could see approximately 100,000 new units in TOD Areas during the next 10 years.
To support the legislation, the province plans to create a provincial policy manual to support municipalities with setting their site standards and moving forward with proposed housing projects.
Following the release of regulations and the policy manual in December 2023, the lands that local governments have designated for transit-oriented growth in their official community plans will be immediately captured under the new minimum allowable density requirements included in the legislation.
For the remaining TOD Areas that require local government designation, municipalities will have until June 30, 2024, to designate these areas (pending regulation). It is expected that approximately 100 TOD Areas will be designated in approximately 30 municipalities throughout B.C. within the first year of the new legislation coming into effect.
Where a local government’s current zoning allows for less density than the new provincial minimum, the new increased minimum density must be allowed by the local government. However, local governments can approve higher density at their discretion.
The proposed legislation will advance alongside the proposed small-scale, multi-unit housing legislation (SSMU). Officials noted that while SSMU will add increased density near transit stops, TOD Areas that have higher density will take precedence over SSMU zoning should they overlap.
Key Takeaways:
The developments will be delivered by Canada Lands Company.
More than half the new homes will be in Ottawa.
Canada Lands Company is also announcing a new minimum affordable housing target of 20% across projects in its pipeline.
The Whole Story:
Federal properties will soon find a new purpose as homes.
Ottawa announced that six surplus federal properties will be developed into more than 2,800 new homes in Calgary, Edmonton, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and Ottawa.
By March 2024, Canada Lands Company will help deliver the following surplus federal properties to build more homes for Canadians:
Calgary: 516 homes at Currie
Edmonton: 711 homes, at the Village at Griesbach, including 93 affordable homes
St. John’s: 34 homes at Pleasantville
Ottawa: 307 homes at Wateridge Village, 600 homes at Carling Avenue, and 710 homes on Booth Street, including 221 affordable homes
With today’s announcement, Canada Lands Company is now on track to support the construction of more than 29,200 new homes over the next six years.
Canada Lands Company is also announcing a new minimum affordable housing target of 20% across projects in its pipeline. The new affordability requirement would apply where a municipal minimum requirement for affordable housing is lower or does not already exist.
As work continues to identify further assets that can be repurposed for housing, the federal government intends to introduce further measures to speed up this process and to identify more opportunities to build more housing.
“Our government is redoubling our efforts in the face of Canada’s housing crisis on several fronts,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of public services and procurement. “We are accelerating and streamlining the process of converting surplus federal properties into housing, and we are continuing to work with Canada Lands Company to enable the construction of additional housing units. Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to helping all Canadians have a safe and affordable place to call home.”
Key Takeaways:
Calgary is seeing significant year-over-year increases in housing projects values.
Multi-residential building went up 30% and and secondary suite work increased 80%
From July to September of 2023, Calgary builders and developers submitted 1,565 single/semi-detached residential, 281 multi-family residential and 543 commercial building permit applications.
The largest increase in applications for multi-residential building permit applications was seen in the townhouse and rowhouse categories
The Whole Story:
Calgary is seeing massive investment in a variety of residential construction types.
City officials reported that Q3 saw a continued increase year-over-year compared to 2022. Much of this value was driven by an increase in multi-residential buildings and secondary suites with an increase of 30% and 80%, respectively.
“Providing Calgarians with housing options is very important. On Sept. 16, Council approved Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, to address the housing crisis. The upward trend in values for multi-residential building and secondary suite construction demonstrates the demand for different housing options,” said Ulrik Seward, manager of business and building safety approvals with development, building and business services. “We will continue to work with the development industry to enable them to provide more affordable homes for everyone.”
From July to September of 2023, Calgary builders and developers submitted 1,565 single/semi-detached residential, 281 multi-family residential and 543 commercial building permit applications. Proposals to redesignate land increased by 80% over the same period last year, with 119 applications submitted. Also, 128 applications to subdivide land were submitted, an increase of 45% during that time.
In new communities, applications for secondary suites are up by 114% over the same period last year, with 762 building permits applied for. In established communities 351 secondary suite building permit applications were received, an increase of 33% compared to Q3 2022.
“The growth in applications for secondary suites across Calgary are for both new builds and existing homes. This has helped us reach over 11,000 safe, registered secondary suites,” said Seward. “This will help us continue to increase the number of available safe and affordable housing options for renters and owners.”
The largest increase in applications for multi-residential building permit applications was seen in the townhouse and rowhouse categories. There has been a year-over-year increase of 35 % for townhouse applications and a 58% increase in rowhouse applications.
The city of Calgary received an overall 5,219 residential building permit applications (which includes, single/semi-detached, multi-family residential, residential improvements and renovation projects) from July to September of 2023, and 1,027 non-residential building permit applications. Year over year, building permit applications were 25 % higher than last year. During that same period construction values increased by 4% from $1.41 billion to $1.46 billion.
“The increase in building permit applications is a testament to our commitment to partnering with the development industry to build a great City,” said Seward. “Over the past several years we have been continuously improving our processes and offering new ways to make it easier for development to take place in Calgary.”
During the third quarter of 2023, the top 10 construction projects listed below were completed. These projects demonstrate a $797.6M investment.
YYC4 Project Maverick, a 2.6 million square foot Amazon warehouse in East Shepard Industrial, valued at $400M.
Arris Towers, a 42 storey, multi-residential building providing 500 units in East Village, valued at $131.1M.
Shawnessy Station, a six storey multi-residential building located in Shawnessy, valued at $38.9M.
Alt Hotel at University District is a 15-storey hotel with 155 units in University District, valued at $33.2M.
Saddletowne Circle Multi-Family is a four-storey building with 175 units located in Saddle Ridge, valued at $30.6M.
Northland Residential Village – South Building and Parkade, which is six-storeys with 113 units, is in Brentwood and valued at $27.1M.
West District – Block 3 is a five-storey residential building with 78 units in West Springs, valued at $17.9M.
Nolan Hill Apartments Phase Two Building Four, which is four-storeys with 86 units in Nolan Hill and valued at $16M.
Key Takeaways:
The new legislation would allow one secondary suite or one laneway home (accessory dwelling unit) in all communities throughout B.C.
Municipalities will also be required to allow up to six units on lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use, depending on size.
The legislation would shift local planning and zoning processes to happen up front and require municipalities throughout B.C. to expedite and streamline permitting by updating community plans and zoning bylaws on a regular basis.
The legislation would also phase out one-off public hearings for rezonings for housing projects that are consistent and aligned with the official community plans.
The Whole Story:
B.C. is opening up home development with sweeping zoning changes.
The province is introducing new legislation that would mandate that municipalities allow a minimum level of housing density and streamline the development process.
Officials say the changes will result in more small-scale, multi-unit housing, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes.
“Anyone looking for a place to live in a community they love knows how hard it is – and outdated zoning rules are making that even harder,” said Premier David Eby. “Constructing mostly high-rise condo towers or single-family homes means B.C. isn’t building enough small-scale multi-unit homes that fit into existing neighbourhoods and give people more housing options that are within reach. That’s why we’re taking action to fix zoning problems and deliver more homes for people, faster.”
Officials explained that historical zoning rules in many B.C. communities have led most new housing to be built mostly in the form of condos, or single-family homes that are out of reach for many people, leaving a shortage of options for the types of housing in between. They added that zoning barriers and layers of regulations have also slowed down the delivery of housing, making people go through long, complicated processes to build much-needed housing.
“The housing crisis has made it harder for growing families looking for more space, seniors looking to downsize, and first-time homebuyers who can’t find a home that meets their needs and budget,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “This legislation strengthens the vibrancy of our communities, while building the type of housing that will help us address the housing crisis.”
The proposed legislation and forthcoming regulations will permit one secondary suite or one laneway home (accessory dwelling unit) in all communities throughout B.C.
In most areas within municipalities of more than 5,000 people, these changes will also require bylaws to allow for:
three to four units permitted on lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use, depending on lot size;
six units permitted on larger lots currently zoned for single-family or duplex use and close to transit stops with frequent service.
Municipalities covered by the legislation may permit additional density if desired, but cannot have bylaws that allow for fewer permitted units than the provincial legislation.
The province also plans to speed up local housing development approvals by shifting local planning and zoning processes to happen up front. It will require municipalities throughout B.C. to expedite and streamline permitting by updating community plans and zoning bylaws on a regular basis.
New proposed changes will also phase out one-off public hearings for rezonings for housing projects that are consistent and aligned with the official community plans. Instead, there will be more frequent opportunities for people to be involved in shaping their communities earlier in the process when official community plans are updated.
“Modelling future scenarios cannot account for unforeseen circumstances, the changing nature of housing, real estate markets and other factors, but preliminary analysis indicates the province could see more than 130,000 new small-scale multi-unit homes in B.C. during the next 10 years,” said officials.
To support implementation, the province said it will continue to provide local governments with resources to speed up approval processes, including the recently announced $51 million to support local governments in meeting the new density zoning requirements, and $10 million for the Local Government Development Approvals Program.
The province added that additional legislation to support housing, transit-oriented development and infrastructure will be introduced in the coming weeks.
The finalists have been named for this year’s Canadian Centre for Public-Private Partnerships’ (CCPPP) 2023 National P3 Awards.
Since 1998, the awards have celebrated and recognized Canada’s cutting-edge infrastructure projects involving public sector entities like governments and educational institutions partnering with the private sector. Individual leaders in the sector are also celebrated in the Champion Awards, which will be announced at the P3 2023 gala luncheon.
This year, the Council has retooled its project award categories to better reflect the changing dynamics of Canada’s P3 infrastructure pipeline and to highlight the need to create better, more resilient and longer lasting infrastructure for our communities.
“The awards committee is pleased to recognize a broad range of successful P3 partnerships in this year’s awards shortlist,” said Brad Nicpon, partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, and chair of the national awards committee. “We congratulate the partners of each shortlisted project for demonstrating the efficiency and flexibility of the P3 model and look forward to formally announcing award-winning projects and individuals at P3 2023 next month.”
Here’s who is in the running:
P3 Transaction
Ontario Line – Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations & Maintenance Contract
Partners: Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario and Connect 6ix General Partnership (Plenary Americas, Hitachi Rail, Webuild Group, Transdev Canada, IBI Professional Services (Canada) Inc., NGE Contracting Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation)
Ontario Line – South Civil, Stations and Tunnel Contract
Partners: Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario and Ontario Transit Group (Ferrovial Construction Canada Inc., VINCI Construction Grands Projets, AECOM Canada Ltd., COWI North America Ltd., GHD Limited, SENER Group, Janin Atlas Inc., and Agentis Capital)
South Niagara Hospital
Partners: Niagara Health, Infrastructure Ontario and EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EllisDon Corporation, EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc., and Parkin Architects Limited)
Thunder Bay Correctional Complex
Partners: Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and EllisDon Infrastructure Justice (EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Corporation, Zeidler Architecture Inc., DLR Group, and EllisDon Facilities Services Inc.)
P3 Design & Construction
Highway 104 Sutherlands River to Antigonish Twinning Project
Partners: Nova Scotia Department of Public Works and Dexter Nova Alliance GP (Municipal Enterprises Limited, Nova Construction Co. Ltd., BBGI SICAV S.A., DNA Design Build Limited, a joint venture between Dexter Construction Company Limited and Nova Construction Co.; and DNA Operations Limited, a joint venture between Municipal Enterprises Limited and Nova Construction Co. Ltd.)
Ontario Court of Justice – Toronto
Partners: Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and EllisDon Infrastructure (EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Design Build Inc., Renzo Piano Building Workshop, NORR Limited, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc. and SNC-Lavalin O&M Inc.)
Environmental, Social and Governance
Forensic Services and Coroners Complex
Partners: Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and CSS (FSCC) Partnership (Concert Infrastructure Ltd., Concert Infrastructure Fund and Dexterra Group)
Gordie Howe International Bridge
Partners: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority and Bridging North America General Partnership (ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Fluor Canada Ltd. and Aecon Concessions)
Library and Archives Canada’s Gatineau 2 Project
Partners: Library and Archives Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada and Plenary Properties Gatineau (Plenary Americas, PCL Investments Canada Inc., PCL Constructors Eastern Inc., B+H Architects, and EQUANS)
South Niagara Hospital
Partners: Niagara Health, Infrastructure Ontario and EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EllisDon Corporation, EllisDon Capital Inc., EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare, EllisDon Facilities Services Inc., and Parkin Architects Limited)
Key Takeaways:
Surrey’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team was formed in 2022.
It’s mission is to enforce its bylaws and target residential construction that is done without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards.
Six demolitions were ordered after a recent enforcement blitz.
The Whole Story:
Surrey’s Illegal Construction Enforcement Team has been cracking down on unlawful construction work.
The city recently launched successful legal actions against six property owners who have illegally constructed buildings without permits, and in many cases have occupied the structures without permits and violated the BC Building Code. In all court cases, the building structures were ordered demolished.
“Building without proper permits is not only illegal but extremely reckless as it endangers the builders, occupants and neighbours,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “The Illegal Construction Enforcement Team was put into place in 2022 to ensure construction projects comply with BC building safety codes and zoning regulations. The City of Surrey will continue to enforce its bylaws to the full extent whenever necessary. Property owners who engage in illegal construction should be aware that they may face legal action, demolition costs, and insurance problems.”
Here are the six cases:
Case 6 – Two property owners built an extension and laneway house that violated lot coverage, density, and setback restrictions. The structures were constructed without any building permits or requisite inspections and despite a stop work notice posted by the City. A court decision was made on Oct. 24, 2023 ordering the structures be demolished within 60 days of the city issuing a permit for demolition.
Case 5 – The property owners built an addition to their home and added a secondary suite without permits. The court order prohibited occupancy or use of the addition and secondary suite. The owners subsequently breached the court order and found them in contempt and ordered the owners to pay a fine totalling $6,000, plus a contingent fine of $13,000, and pay the City’s legal costs. A new hearing was set and heard on October 18, 2023 and the owners were ordered to demolish the home additions built without permits.
Case 4 – The property owners built an addition to their existing home without a permit. The property owner agreed to a consent order that required them to demolish the addition by December 16, 2022.
Case 3 – A property owner-built structures without permits, dumped fill on their land, and damaged trees. The court ordered them to vacate all the structures, demolish them within 90 days, remove the fill, and plant 16 new trees. The court order was issued on June 24, 2022.
Case 2 – A property owner added a second storey to their existing home without a permit and occupied the addition. The court ordered them to stop the occupancy, apply for a demolition permit within 30 days, and demolish the addition within 60 days after getting the permit. The court decision was made on July 18, 2023.
Case 1 – A number of property owners built a detached building on their land without permits and allowed someone to live in the building. The court ordered them to stop the occupancy, apply for a demolition permit within 15 days, and demolish the structures within 60 days after getting the permit. The court decision was made on July 11, 2023.
In 2022, the Illegal Construction Enforcement Team was put into place to enforce its bylaws and target residential construction that is done without permits, inspections, or compliance with safety standards. Beyond seeking compliance in court, the City of Surrey has also increased fines for illegal building activities.
Key Takeaways:
The final weld was done near Kitimat, B.C.
The milestone was achieved after five years of construction.
The work is the last step before mechanical completion which the team says is well on track for their year-end target.
The Whole Story:
After five years of construction, the Coastal GasLink project has achieved 100% pipe installation across the entire project route, connecting northeastern B.C. to LNG Canada’s facility on the west coast.
The final “golden weld” took place at the base of Cable Crane Hill in Section 8 West near Kitimat, B.C. earlier this month.
With that weld, all 670km of pipe has been welded, coated, lowered into the trench, tested, and backfilled. From the Wilde Lake Compressor Station near Dawson Creek to the Metering Station in Kitimat, physical construction on the project is now complete.
The work is the last step before mechanical completion which the team says is well on track for their year-end target.
While completion activities advance, the Coastal GasLink said its team continues to work on clean-up and reclamation along the route, including time sensitive work that must take place prior to the onset of winter.
Cable Crane Hill in Section 8 require specialized equipment to install pipe in difficult terrain. – TC Energy
This work will continue post mechanical completion and commissioning and also factors in erosion and sediment control (ESC) measures as required to protect the environment and meet commitments. Following mechanical completion, the team will be planning the introduction of gas.
The pipeline is designed to deliver 2.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas with the potential to deliver up to 5 bcf/d, through additional compression along the route.
The project runs from northeastern B.C. to the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, B.C. From there, LNG Canada will prepare the gas for export to global markets by converting the gas to a liquefied state (LNG).
Graham
Graham’s Daly Overpass team admires a prairie sunrise in Brandon, Manitoba. The project will include a new four-lane bridge with a separate pedestrian and active transportation bridge.
Ontario Line
Crews excavated 15 metres of a new sewer tunnel as part of the Ontario Line project. The 15.6-km subway line in Toronto will run from Exhibition Place, through downtown, all the way to the Ontario Science Centre.
Diamond Schmitt
Crews have officially topped off the Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada joint facility. The project team can now begin working on the building’s curved roof.
Clark Builders
Indigenous leaders help break ground on the Kainai Peacemaking Centre for the Blood Tribe near Cardston, Alta. According to Clark, new centre will serve a beacon of restoration, preserving communal bonds through traditional Blackfoot practices.
Wales McLelland shows off construction progress on its TransCold Distribution project. The 79,200 sq. ft. building will contain a state-of-the-art 51,000 sq. ft. freezer and cold dock. It also includes 10,500 sq. ft. of office and 10,100 sq. ft. of dry warehouse.
Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems
A helicopter delivers a Viessmann boiler to the Royal Inland Hospital Phase 2 project roof. According to Pitt Meadows Plumbing, Viessmann boilers are renowned for their energy efficiency, reliability and sustainability. EllisDon, Coldstream Helicopters Ltd, and EagleWest Cranes worked with Pitt Meadows Plumbing to achieve a successful delivery.
JEN COL Construction finishes the last few details on the new Theresa C. Wildcat Early Learning Centre in Maskwacîs, Alta.
Fraser Crossing Partners
A group of students from the UBC Steel Bridge engineering design team visit the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project.
The shot of the month goes to…
Aecon
Aecon announced that the NouvLR team on the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project has completed the central wall of the REM tunnel under Mount Royal – revealing the two distinct tracks.
It’s a childhood memory almost everyone shares. Taking a shovel somewhere in the woods and seeing how deep you can dig.
These teams are digging on a whole other level with their massive tunneling projects. When you can’t go over or around, sometimes your best option is to go underground. Tunnels are critical for a wide range of infrastructure, including roads, water treatment, power generation, transit and much more.
The George Massey Tunnel Replacement
Originally planned to be a bridge, this replacement for the aging George Massey Tunnel has been a long time coming. After spending years of studies and political disagreements, the $4.15B project now has three short-listed bid teams. The project involves building a new toll-free, eight-lane tunnel along Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta. The winning team is expected to be chosen next spring.
Broadway Subway
Broadway Subway
Big things are happening underneath the streets of Vancouver. The Broadway Subway Project is a 5.7 km extension of the Millennium Line, from VCC-Clark Station to Broadway and Arbutus. 700 metres will be elevated, extending from VCC-Clark Station to a tunnel portal near Great Northern Way. Five kilometres will be tunneled below the Broadway Corridor. The tunneling is being done by two boring machines, named Phyllis and Elsie. Just this month, Phyllis broke through to the fourth of six underground stations planned. But don’t fret. Phyllis won’t be lonely long. Elsie is expected to reach the same point later this fall. The new line is scheduled to open in 2026.
Burnaby Mountain Tunnel
Trans Mountain
What’s the quickest way to get past a mountain? You go right through it. As part of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, crews will use a tunnel to connect Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal. The team says this avoids impacts on residents and existing infrastructure. Trans Mountain’s contractor, Kiewit Ledcor TMEP Partnership (KLTP) will used a tunnel-boring machine to construct the 2.6-km tunnel through Burnaby Mountain. Drilling wrapped up last September after 225 mining days with 20 hours of mining per day.
Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel repairs
Quebec Transport Ministry Archives
Sometimes an old tunnel just needs a bit of sprucing up. Quebec officials are hoping $2.5 billion in repairs will keep the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel, which connects the island of Montreal to the South Shore, in service for the next 40 years. The main interventions in the tunnel consist of major structural rehabilitation, upgrading operating equipment, redesign of service corridors and adding fire protection. Crews are currently repair the tunnel’s tube structure and carrying out the reconstruction of concrete slabs on Autoroute 25. Work is expected to wrap in 2026. The tunnel opened to traffic in 1967.
Hydro One Tunnel
This year Hydro One, Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution service provider, launched construction on a new tunnel that will run 85ft below ground in downtown Toronto, from the Esplanade to Bay and Dundas. The tunnel will be 12ft in diameter, approximately the size of three park benches, and will house new transmission cables, replacing cables that have served Toronto’s downtown core since the 1950s. Hydro One is investing approximately $120 million dollars in the infrastructure renewal project.
Twin SEM Tunnels Project
What’s cooler than digging one tunnel? Digging two tunnels, of course. But it wasn’t easy. Toronto’s Highway 401/409 Twin SEM Tunnels Project involved construction two rail tunnels under 21 active lanes of highway traffic, alongside the existing active rail corridor, and had to be completed with zero impacts to either active transportation system. The complex project, expanding the Kitchener GO corridor as part of Metrolinx’s Regional Express Rail program, was developed by Toronto Transit Partners, a consortium consisting of EllisDon, STRABAG, WSP, Dr. G. Sauer & Partners, and Jensen Hughes. Their efforts did not go unnoticed. The team was awarded the the 2022 Project of the Year over $100 million by the Tunnelling Association of Canada (TAC).
Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant Outfall
Hatch
The largest subaqueous (a fancy way of saying “underwater”) tunnel to be built in Toronto, the Ashbridges Bay project is already turning heads. It won Tunneling Project of the Year from the TAC, the 2021 and 2023 TAC Canadian Innovation Initiative Award, and Bentley’s Year in Infrastructure 2020 Awards for digital delivery advancements. The new outfall is expected meet peak design flows under highest recorded lake water level conditions while achieving regulatory standards. It will be one of the largest outfalls constructed in North America and is designed to significantly improve water quality along Toronto shorelines and contribute to improve the overall environment of the region.
AECOM has been appointed technical advisor for the Hamilton LRT project by Metrolinx.
The project is a 14-kilometre transit line will be the Hamilton, Ont.’s first light rail transit system and will be designed to accommodate expected future growth and development, improve connectivity and attract economic development in the rapidly growing area.
“As Ontario advances its record investment in public transit, we look forward to working with Metrolinx and our partners to support a more connected and economically vibrant Hamilton through accessible and sustainable transportation,” said Richard Barrett, chief executive of AECOM’s Canada region. “AECOM has played a critical role in light rail projects across Ontario and Canada, and our teams are excited to deploy their depth of experience and local expertise to deliver this transformative project.”
AECOM says its integrated team will be supporting Metrolinx on the delivery of the full breadth of infrastructure for the Hamilton LRT.
“World-class transit is critical to urban development, especially as we seek to design more sustainable cities,” said Mark Southwell, chief executive of AECOM’s global transportation business. “This project will set Hamilton apart as a leader in public transportation, preparing it for a more livable, low-carbon future. As we deliver major transit projects across the globe, the Hamilton LRT is the latest example of how our Sustainable Legacies strategy continues to improve social and environmental outcomes for communities.”
Infrastructure improvements will span the entire project corridor, and include:
Replaced sewer
All new watermains
New gas mains
New hydro lines
New telecommunications lines
Restored sidewalks and roads
One of Alberta’s largest public infrastructure projects ever is nearing completion.
Officials anticipate that all work for the Calgary Ring Road will be done early next year. The Calgary Ring Road project, also known as the Stoney Trail project, began construction in the early 2000s.
Earlier this year, construction of the new West Bow River bridge and new interchanges at Old Banff Coach Road and Bow Trail opened for traffic.
The province stated that these openings have cut travel times for drivers by up to 20 minutes and have vastly improved travel times for commercial carriers. When fully completed, the Calgary Ring Road will provide 101 kilometres of free-flow travel.
“I’m excited to announce the Calgary Ring Road is one step closer to being finished,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of transportation and economic corridors “We are delivering on making life better for Albertans through the completion of this section for this major project, which means faster commutes, less panic getting kids to school or practice, quicker trips for groceries and a whole lot less stress.”
Construction of the West Calgary Ring Road is the final piece of the entire ring project, and the focus is now shifting to the final phase between Bow Trail and Highway 8, which is on track to be complete in 2024. Government documents show it has an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.
The West Calgary Ring Road includes:
More than nine kilometres of new road.
Five kilometres of upgrades to the Trans-Canada Highway.
Six interchanges and 29 bridges.
Three sections: South Project between Highway 8 and Old Banff Coach Road, North Project between Old Banff Coach Road and the Trans-Canada Highway, West Bow River Bridge.
The West Bow River Bridge is located north of the Trans Canada Highway/16 Avenue NW.
A map shows the various sections of the Calgary Ring Road. – Government of Alberta
