Golden Ears Bridge

operational

Opportunity For years a new crossing of the Fraser River had been part of the long-term transportation plans for the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Province of British Columbia. A new crossing was necessary to address increasing traffic congestion on existing bridges and roadways due to high population growth in the northeast sector of the region. Following a series of studies and community consultations in May 2002, TransLink found a new Fraser River crossing to be technically and economically feasible. Challenges At the time of construction British Columbia’s construction sector was experiencing capacity challenges with competition increasing in an overheated construction market fuelled by the 2010 elections. Innovations TransLink did not have to make a payment to the private partner until the bridge reached substantial completion. TransLink successfully negotiated the transfer of considerable risk to its private partner, resulting in capital cost certainty. Using a P3 meant there was a built-in warranty for the infrastructure against material defects over the life of the agreement. Results The Golden Ears Bridge is a six-lane, 14-kilometre long bridge across the Fraser River connecting highways 1, 5 and 7. Benefits of the new bridge include travel time savings of 20 to 30 minutes; reduced traffic congestion for commuters and goods movement; improved accessibility to and from residential and industrial developments; linking existing pedestrian and cycling networks; and minimizing impacts on green space and agricultural land. Travel distances in the region have been reduced by approximately 12 kilometres on average, resulting in vehicle operating cost savings of $1.4 billion and travel time savings worth $1.6 billion. Construction of the new bridge and road network created more than $1 billion in economic activity and 6,500 person years of employment. Given the overheated construction market at the time of construction, the value of obtaining a fixed price, cost certain contract cannot be overstated.   “The Golden Ears Bridge is the critical link across the Fraser River that will dramatically improve the movement of people and goods through the region. By engaging the private sector’s ability to deliver an innovative design and take accountability for both the construction and the management of project risks, TransLink will deliver a facility that the region has needed for decades, on time and on budget.”  - Malcolm Brodie, Chair, TransLink

High