Ontario shortlists six construction teams for two big Toronto subway tunnelling projects

The shotcreting process during tunnel construction for the initial phase of the Eglinton Crosstown, which is scheduled to open in 2022. PHOTO: Metrolinx

The Ontario government has shortlisted six construction consortia for tunnelling contracts for two separate transit projects on the east and west ends of Toronto.

Provincial agencies Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx said Aug. 5 that three bid teams have been advanced to the request for proposals (RFP) stage for both the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.

“When our government was elected, we immediately reached out to listen to the market to ensure there was capacity and competition to bid on priority projects,” Caroline Mulroney, Ontario’s minister of Transportation, said in a release. “The market has responded in an overwhelmingly positive manner and this shortlist is made up of a strong mix of Canadian and international bidders.”

The two projects are part of the government’s $28.5 billion plan to expand transit throughout Toronto. First tabled last spring, the initiative also includes the new Ontario Line subway and the Yonge North subway extension.

To get shovels in the ground more quickly on the long-debated Scarborough Subway and on the Crosstown West extension, IO and Metrolinx unbundled the work and issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the tunnelling portion this March. Procurement for the additional contracts tied to station construction and fitting out the tunnels are still to come.

The Ontario crown agencies plan to award the final contracts for the two big tunnelling jobs by the middle of next year, but it will be nearly a decade before Torontonians are riding on either line. The Scarborough Subway Extension is scheduled to open in 2029 or 2030, and completion of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is set for 2030 or 2031.

The three teams shortlisted for the eight-kilometre Scarborough Subway Extension, which will run from the existing Kennedy Station to McCowan Road/Sheppard Avenue:

ACCIONA

Applicant Lead: Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.
Design Team: AECOM Canada Ltd., Acciona Ingenieria S.A., CIMA+ Canada Inc., Thurber Engineering Ltd., GALL ZEIDLER Consultants, T2 Utility Engineers Inc., EWE+ General Partnership
Construction Team: Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.
Financial Advisor: Agentis Capital

EAST END CONNECTORS

Applicant Leads: Dragados Canada Inc., Aecon Infrastructure Management. Inc., Ghella Canada Ltd.
Design Team: TYPSA Inc., EXP Services Inc., Pedelta Canada Inc.
Construction Team: Dragados Canada Inc., Aecon Infrastructure Management. Inc., Ghella Canada Ltd.
Financial Advisor: ACS Infrastructure Canada, Aecon Concessions, HSBC, Ghella Investments & Partnerships

STRABAG INC.

Applicant Lead: Strabag Inc.
Design Team: Arup Canada Inc.
Construction Team: Strabag Inc.
Financial Advisor: Strabag Inc.

Toronto’s new Eglinton Crosstown LRT is expected to open in 2022. The planned extension includes seven stops and runs 9.2-kilometre to the west. The shortlist for the tunnelling work includes:

FAST EGLINTON GROUP

Applicant Leads: FCC Construccion S.A., Astaldi Canada Enterprises Inc., Salini-Impregilo S.p.A.
Design Team: COWI North America, AECOM Canada, Arcadis Canada Inc., Tunnel and Bridge Technologies Inc.
Construction Team: FCC Construccion S.A., Astaldi Canada Design & Construction, Inc., Salini-Impregilo S.p.A.

NORTH AMERICAN TUNNEL PARTNERS

Applicant Leads: EllisDon Capital, Inc., Barnard LP
Design Team: McMillen Jacobs Associates, Aldea Services LLC, Englobe Corp., Lea Consulting, Ltd.
Construction Team: Barnard Constructors of Canada LP, Kenaidan Contracting Ltd.
Financial Advisor: EllisDon Capital Inc.

WEST END CONNECTORS

Applicant Leads: Dragados Canada Inc., Aecon Infrastructure Management. Inc., Ghella Canada Ltd.
Design Team: TYPSA Inc., EXP Services Inc.
Construction Team: Dragados Canada Inc., Aecon Infrastructure Management. Inc., Ghella Canada Ltd.
Financial Advisor: ACS Infrastructure Canada, Aecon Concessions, Scotiabank Capital, Ghella Investments & Partnerships