Financial close reached on Regina Bypass project
By STAFF REPORT
Asphalt Bridges Concrete Construction Financing Infrastructure LEED P3s RoadsP3 project pegged at $1.88 billion
The Government of Saskatchewan has reached financial close with SaskLink Global Transportation Partners (SGTP) to build the Regina Bypass for $1.88 billion.
The final price tag includes the cost of design, construction, finance, operations, and maintenance over the life of the contract in today’s dollars. By using a public-private partnership (P3) model the government will save $380 million, or 16.8 per cent, according to a release from SaskBuilds, the government agency responsible for overseeing the project. The federal government, through PPP Canada, is investing up to $200 million in the project.
“The Regina Bypass will address safety needs on Highway 1 east of Regina, reduce congestion in and around the city and support economic growth throughout the region,” Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner said. “We’re excited to see work underway on this historic project, which will see a dozen overpasses and about 40 km of new twinned highway constructed far sooner than with a traditional approach.”
Site work has begun in preparation for construction of the publicly owned bypass to begin later this summer.
Construction will be complete in fall 2019 with some segments opening in advance of the full bypass completion.
Based on preliminary numbers, this project will have significant economic benefits for the province by creating 8,200 construction-related jobs in Saskatchewan.
“The P3 model will help us deliver this project on-time and on-budget in a timeframe that would otherwise not have been achievable through a traditional construction approach,” SaskBuilds Minister Gordon Wyant said. “We are pleased to be moving forward with the Regina Bypass Partners team to deliver this key public asset and to be saving a further $200 million with the federal government’s significant contribution.”
Regina Bypass Partners (formerly Sasklink Global Transportation Partners) was selected to partner with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to build the bypass after completing a two-staged transparent and competitive process.
The design-build team includes:
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- Parsons
- Graham
- VINCI
- Carmacks
- GraCorp Capital
- McElhanney
- Urban Systems
- Buckland and Taylor
- Exp
- Clifton Assoc.
- Delcan
“The scope and delivery method for this project has created the opportunity to offer very good value to Saskatchewan,” said Graham Chief Financial Officer Tim Heavenor, who is also President of Regina Bypass Partners. “Our integrated team combines the local knowledge, labor force and subcontractor relationships provided by Graham, Parsons and Carmack’s with industry-leading expertise from Vinci.”