Sierra Yoyo Desan Resource Road

operational

Opportunity The Sierra Yoyo Desan (SYD) road is a 180-kilometre gravel resource road running through rugged terrain which, while open to the public, is almost entirely used by industry to access oil and gas fields in northeastern B.C. The road provides primary access to over 27,000 square-kilometres of oil and gas exploration territory. Prior to 1998 the SYD Road consisted of various fragments, under the control of a variety of owners. Without sufficient maintenance, the roadbed deteriorated under the stress of heavy equipment and adverse weather conditions, and was frequently inaccessible.   After being consolidated under the ownership of the B.C. Transportation Financing Authority between 1998 and 2003 it was necessary to upgrade the road in order to meet future demand from the energy sector. A P3 was chosen for the project as the work could be completed at no direct cost to taxpayers. Innovations Payments are tied to performance. Ledcor must meet agreed upon standards before it is paid for improvement and maintenance. Ledcor is responsible for reporting on performance quality. Failure to report performance issues will result in penalties being doubled if found in an audit. The project protected taxpayers by transferring the majority of risk for the project to the private sector. Results The upgrade to SYD Road was completed in August 2005—three months ahead of schedule—and features a new 22-kilometre bypass, a new major bridge across the Fort Nelson River and widening and surface improvements to the existing roadway and bridges. The road remains a public highway available to the public at no cost, owned by the province and leased to Ledcor. The project helped create jobs and generate economic activity in the northeast region of BC. “This project is a good example of an innovative public-private partnership that will create employment and economic opportunities for B.C.” - Richard Neufeld, former Minister of Energy and Mines

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