Reports on Plans and Priorities
2016-17 - Supplementary Information Table: Status Report on Transformational and Major Crown Projects

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Supplementary Information Table: Status Report on Transformational and Major Crown Projects

Project name

New Bridge for the St. Lawrence Corridor Project

Description

The existing Champlain Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in Canada with traffic estimated at over 40 million vehicles per year. It is a major Canada-United States trade corridor, handling $20 billion of international trade and 11 million transit commuters per year.

The New Bridge for the St. Lawrence Corridor (NBSL) Project addresses the need to replace the Champlain Bridge and the temporary causeway (which is being built as a temporary replacement to the Nuns' Island Bridge), both having reached the end of their useful lives. The Project also offers an efficient solution to the movement of goods and people by widening the federally owned A15 Highway to a six-lane capacity. The NBSL Project is expected to be delivered as a public-private partnership (P3).

Project outcomes

  • Maintain the Safety and Efficiency of the Corridor;
  • Foster Sustainable Development and Urban Integration within the Montreal area;
  • Improving the Flow of People and Goods in the Montreal Area;
  • Improving the Safety of Users Through Modern Design Aspects;
  • Designing Bridges for the St Lawrence, and Nuns' Island with a 125 Year Life Expectancies;

Industrial benefits

Replacing the existing infrastructures, as well as widening the A15 Highway will mitigate any risk of disrupting the trade corridor and will improve the flow of traffic.

The project provides significant opportunities for local business to participate, notably in construction related aspect of the project's implementation.

The NBSLC Project will provide lasting economic benefits to the municipalities on each side of the river and more broadly to the region as a whole.

Sponsoring department

Infrastructure of Canada

Contracting authority

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Participating departments

Public Services and Procurement Canada, Justice Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada

Prime contractors

Private Partner
Signature on the St. Laurent Group
1400-1501 McGill College
Montreal, QC H3A 3M8

Technical Advisor – Owner's Engineer
Arup Canada Inc.
600 Boulevard de Maisonneuve West, Office 750
Montréal, QC H3A 3J2

Major subcontractors

Technical Advisor – Independent Engineer
Stantec & Ramboll
300-1080 Beaver Hall Hill
Montréal, QC, H2Z 1S8

Project phase

In 2016-2017, the Private Partner will advance the construction of the project. The project team will oversee the construction and manage agreements with external entities.

Major milestones

  • Environmental assessment is completed

October 2013
  • Launch of the procurement process – Request for Qualifications

March 2014
  • Beginning of acquisition of land

June 2014
  • Announcement of the design specifications for the New Bridge for the St. Lawrence

June 2014
  • Announcement of the three consortia invited to participate in the Request for Proposals process.

July 2014

  • Negotiation of agreements with external entities

Ongoing
  • Announcement of the Preferred Proponent and beginning of the Early Work Agreement

April 2015
  • Signature of Project Agreement with the Private Partner and beginning of construction

June 2015
  • Scheduled completion of the construction of the New Bridge for the St. Lawrence

December 2018
  • Scheduled completion of the construction of the Corridor

October 2019

Progress report and explanation of variances

  • Necessary authorities were provided in December 2013, April 2014 February 2015 and June 2015 to carry out the NBSLC project.
  • Budget 2014 supported the NBSLC project by providing $165 million over a period of two years, in order to take on the preparatory work required for the project. Subsequent approval for expenditure authority was provided.
  • The construction cost for Canada was estimated at between $3 billion and $5 billion. In 2015, the Government of Canada confirmed that the project cost was of $4.239 billion.
  • In April 2014, approval was provided to begin the acquisition of properties, as required for the Project.
  • In June 2015, the Government of Canada entered into a 34 year contractual agreement with a private partner, Signature on the Saint-Laurent Group. The Private Partner is responsible for carrying out the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance work for the project.
  • The P3 procurement model has been successfully implemented.
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