Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Request for Proposals (RFP) stage has closed for teams to submit bids to design, build and finance the Highway 3 widening project – from Essex to Leamington.
Three teams were prequalified and invited to respond to an RFP in December 2021. Two of the three teams – Erie Shores Infrastructure Partners and GIP Paving Inc. (formerly Coco Paving Inc.) – submitted proposals by the deadline.
GIP Paving’s team includes design support from Dillon Consulting Ltd. and Golder Associates Ltd.
Erie Shores is led by Brennan Infrastructures Inc. and Amico Infrastructures Inc. with construction support from Colas Project Canada Inc. and design support from Parsons Inc. and EXP Services Inc.
Construction will extend 15.6 kilometres, widening the highway from two lanes to four from 1.2 km east of Arner Townline easterly to 1.1 km east of Union Avenue.
Work will include:
- drainage improvements including the extension of six mainline structural culverts, replacement/extension of existing centerline culverts along with the installation of additional culverts for the modifications to the local road network
- realignment and intersection removals of several local roads on Highway 3
- reconstruction/resurfacing of existing lanes on Highway 3
- signalization and illumination as required
Over the next few months, submissions will be evaluated, and the outcome is expected to be announced in spring 2023. A fairness monitor is overseeing the entire procurement process.
IO in collaboration with MTO is leading the procurement of the Highway 3 Widening Project. The project is being delivered through IO’s design, build and finance (DBF) Public-Private Partnership (P3) model, which transfers appropriate risks associated with design, construction, and financing of the project to the private sector.