Request for Proposals Released - Highway Construction to Create 13,000 Jobs

TORONTO - Ontario took a major step today towards construction of Highway 407 East by releasing a request for proposals (RFP) that invites three short-listed teams to submit proposals to design, build, finance and maintain phase one of the new Highway 407 East.

Highway 407 East will be a publicly owned toll road. The province will operate Highway 407 East, establish customer service standards, set toll rates and retain all revenues generated by tolls on Highway 407 East. The design and construction of the highway will create and sustain approximately 13,000 jobs throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Durham Region.

The highway will be built in two phases: From Brock Road in Pickering to Harmony Road in Oshawa, and then to Highway 35/115 by 2020. A new link, the West Durham Link, will connect Highway 407 East to Highway 401.

The three short-listed teams have approximately six months to prepare and submit their proposals. The three
teams are:

  • 407 East Development Group Partners  
    • Cintra Infrastructuras S.A    
    • Intoll Group  
    • SNC-Lavalin 
  • 407 East Development Partners
    • OHL Concesiones S.L.
    • Global Via Infraestructuras S. A.   
    • Borealis Infrastructure Management Inc. 
    • Con-Drain Company Limited 
    • Coco Paving Inc. 
  • 407 GreenLink Partners
    • Bilfinger Berger Project Investments
    • Macquarie Group
    • AECON Group Inc. 
    • Fengate Capital Management Limited

The short-listed teams participated in a rigorous competitive request for qualifications (RFQ) process.

Once the RFP submissions are received and evaluated, a successful team will be selected and announced in early 2012. A copy of the RFP is available on Infrastructure Ontario's website at www.infrastructureontario.ca.

The province has reached an agreement in principle with an affiliate of 407 ETR to provide tolling services for the new Highway 407 East. The province will receive these services, initially for a ten-year term, at a lower cost than establishing a new tolling system.

Using the affiliate of 407 ETR's existing tolling system will benefit motorists travelling on both 407 ETR and the new Highway 407 East. Benefits include: use of the same transponder currently used on 407 ETR for trips on Highway 407 East; a single bill for all trips made on Highway 407 East and 407 ETR, with trips on each highway itemized separately; a single payment system; and one phone number and website for customer services and for inquiries regarding 407 ETR and Highway 407 East.

With this agreement, Ontario will be able to ensure a high level of service for Highway 407 East drivers. The agreement will allow the province to withhold payments if established standards for customer service and timely, accurate billing are not met.

Final terms of the tolling services agreement with the affiliate of 407 ETR are expected later this year.

Building Highway 407 East is important for the Region of Durham and communities of Peterborough and Kawartha. Design and construction of the highway will create thousands of jobs during the first phase and generate significant economic spin-off benefits for local businesses. Once completed, the highway will create opportunities for business, population and employment growth.

Highway 407 East will provide commuters with more efficient access to the Greater Toronto Area, relieve congested areas of Highway 401 - Canada's busiest highway, and improve the movement of services and goods across Ontario.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

Quotes:

Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation
“The Ontario government's transportation investments are part of our Open Ontario plan to strengthen our economy and create more jobs and opportunities across the province. The project to extend the highway will help to improve the economy and local quality of life while strengthening the province's infrastructure.”

Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure
“Our government's investment in the transportation network supports economic sectors, such as construction, and plays an important role in moving goods and people across the Greater Toronto Area and Durham Region.”

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Contacts:
Paulette den Elzen
Infrastructure Ontario
416-327-5764

Bob Nichols
Ministry of Transportation
416-327-1158