By Ashley Karen
Strabag, Webuild and Acciona teams have been invited by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx to bid for a major works package related to the Ontario Line subway in Toronto, Canada.
This particular package focuses on the Pape tunnel and underground stations, which is just one of many contracts that will be necessary for the completion of the Ontario Line.
The rapid transit line is expected to be around 15.6km long and could cost up to C$19bn (£11bn) to deliver. It will feature 15 new stations throughout the city, starting at Exhibition Place and running all the way to the Ontario Science Centre, with a significant portion of it passing through downtown Toronto.
The contract itself will require the construction of 3km of twin tunnels under Pape Avenue between the Gerrard Portal and the Don Valley bridge, as well as the underpinning of the existing TTC Pape Station on the Toronto Transit Commission’s subway Line 2. Two underground stations at Pape and Cosburn in the northern section of the project, along with two portals, are also included in the contract.
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) invited below teams to respond to its request for proposals (RFP):
- Community Transit Link, including Strabag and Arup Canada
- Pape North Connect, including Webuild, FCC Construcción, IBI Group Professional Services (Canada) and Aecom Canada
- Trillium Subway Partners, including Acciona Infrastructure Canada, Eiffage Innovative Canada, Amico Infrastructures, WSP Canada, Typsa Canada and LEA Consulting.
In addition, an RFP was issued by IO and Metrolinx for another significant works package that includes an elevated walkway and the eastern stations at Riverside-Leslieville, Gerrard, and the northern stations at Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park, and the Science Centre.
The shortlisted teams are Rail Connect Partnership (SNC-Lavalin Major Projects, Bird Construction Industrial Services, TY Lin International Canada and Entuitive Corporation); Transit Expansion North (Pomerleau, Aecon Infrastructure Management, Bouygues Travaux Publics, Parsons, Systra International Bridge Technologies Canada and GHD); and Trillium Guideway Partners (Acciona Infrastructure Canada, Amico Infrastructures, Dufferin Construction Company and WSP Canada).
A progressive design-build delivery model will be used to deliver both packages.
This segment of the project consists of four work packages, including two major works contracts and two smaller early works contracts.
A request for qualifications process was initiated in November 2022, and the shortlisted teams have responded accordingly.
The engineering teams will now commence the submission of their proposals, outlining their approach to delivering the work.
Following this stage, Metrolinx will collaborate with the top-ranked team for each project during the development phase, which is expected to begin next year.
Upon completion of the development phase, Metrolinx will sign a contract with the thriving team.
In November 2022, A joint venture between Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Ferrovial Construction was awarded the Ontario Line South contract, valued at C$6bn (£3.8bn). This contract includes financing, design, and construction of a 6km twin tube tunnel and seven new stations, six of which are underground.
IO and Metrolinx have also announced that the Connect 6ix consortium, comprising Plenary Americas, Hitachi Rail, Webuild Group, and Transdev Canada, will oversee the £390M rolling stock, systems, operations, and maintenance contract for the project.
The Ontario Line is one of four priority transit projects announced by the province in 2019 for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, alongside the Yonge North Subway Extension, the Scarborough Subway Extension, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
