Toronto Port Authority invites bids for airport tunnel construction
The Toronto Port Authority announced Monday it is issuing a request for proposals to build a pedestrian and services tunnel connecting the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to the mainland.
The airport, located on the Toronto Island, is accessible only by ferry boat but for years the port authority has been trying to get approval to build either a bridge or tunnel to the island from the south end of Bathurst Street, which ends at the shore of Lake Ontario just north of the island airport.
The RFP, which will be a design-build-finance-maintain model, will be issued to three consortia that were short-listed as a result of a request for qualification process that started in August, 2010.
The three consortia are City Airport Tunnel Partners, Elite Tunnel Group and Forum Infrastructure Partners.
City Airport Tunnel Partners (CAT) is a joint venture between Fengate Capital and Aecon Concessions, Aecon Group's infrastructure and investment arm. Aecon Concession is joined by Honeywell Canada.
Elite Tunnel Group is comprised of: investment firm Macquarie Capital Group Ltd.; McNally Group of companies; consulting firm Morrison Hershfield; engineering firm Golder Associates Ltd; Scott Associates Architects, which designs aviation facilities; and the State Group Inc.
Forum Infrastructure Partners includes Forum Equity Partners Inc., PCL Constructors Inc., engineering consulting firm Arup, Exp Global Inc. (formerly Trow Global Holdings Inc.), Technicore Underground and ZAS Architects.
Along with announcing the RFP, the port authority said Monday it has concluded, based on comments received during the environmental assessment, that the proposed pedestrian tunnel and perimeter road project is “unlikely to cause significant, adverse environmental effects.â€
The environmental assessment was initiated in February, 2010 and considered the construction and operation of the project. It also considered cumulative effects of the project related to airline passenger use, local vehicular traffic and noise and air quality impact. Based on meetings and reports from the environmental assessment process, the port authority said it “continues to consider proceeding with the project.â€
The consortia have six months to submit proposals to the TPA for its consideration and review.
http://www.dcnonl.com/article/id43762
http://www.thestar.com/news/article...lists-firms-to-build-tunnel-to-island-airport