Skip to main content

George Massey Tunnel Replacement gets environmental approval

The Canadian province of British Columbia has given environmental approval for a 10-lane US$2.8 billion bridge to replace the ageing George Massey Tunnel near Vancouver. However, approval for the 3km cable stay bridge over the Fraser River comes with 33 conditions, according to Canadian media. Construction of the toll bridge will also mean replacing the interchanges of Westminster Highway, Steveston Highway and Highway 17A.
February 13, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The Canadian province of British Columbia has given environmental approval for a 10-lane US$2.8 billion bridge to replace the ageing George Massey Tunnel near Vancouver.

However, approval for the 3km cable stay bridge over the Fraser River comes with 33 conditions, according to Canadian media.

Construction of the toll bridge will also mean replacing the interchanges of Westminster Highway, Steveston Highway and Highway 17A.

The western Canadian project – called the George Massey Tunnel Replacement - still requires federal, provincial and local government permits before it can be given the green light for construction, expected to start this year for completion by 2022. An official name for the bridge has yet to be chosen.

Three consortia are vying for the project to which is intended to replace the existing George Massey Tunnel. One consortium is headed by Spanish company ACS and its local subsidiaries and also includes Star America Infrastructure Partners and Aecon. Another of the competing consortia is comprised of Kiewit, 2378 Macquarie and 5177 Vinci. The third consortium in the running for the project is made up of 6343 Fluor, 1378 John Laing and SNC-Lavalin.

The new bridge will be 547m above the water, allowing for the tallest of ships to pass, and have a separate lane for cyclists and pedestrians as well as high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

It will also be more than twice as long as the recently completed Port Mann Toll Bridge. A 3260 World Highways %$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 2 23103 0 oLinkInternal key project report in August 2015 Almost gone: Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge deconstructed false /sections/key-projects/features/almost-gone-canadas-old-port-mann-bridge-deconstructed/ false false%> featured the dismantling of the old bridge beside which the new bridge was built.

The bridge will be built directly above the George Massey Tunnel which was opened in 1959 but which suffers increasingly regular traffic congestion. Keeping it open as an alternate route or as a route for cycling and pedestrians was mooted but the cost of maintaining an ageing structure would be prohibitive. It will be closed and demolished after the new bridge is opened.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Summer paving schedule set for British Columbia
    June 15, 2022
    Around US$40 million will be spent on paving projects by Canada’s Pacific Ocean coast province.
  • Almost gone: Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge deconstructed
    August 14, 2015
    Three years ago a welder’s cut halved Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge. David Arminas reports from the banks of the Fraser River. By the time this issue of World Highways reaches you, one of Canada’s iconic steel arch bridges will be a shadow of its former self. It’s been a three-year demolition job since the first cut across the deck of the old Port Mann Bridge just outside the city of Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast. A new 10-lane 2.2km Port Mann Bridge opened in 2012 (see box). It runs parallel to the o
  • Systra, Kiewit and Hatch to build third bridge in Kingston, Canada
    August 31, 2018
    Kingston, Canada, has selected Systra International Bridge Technologies, Peter Kiewit Sons and Hatch as the preferred consortium for the design and build Third Crossing project. Seven international teams answered the requests for proposals in February and 2018 with Systra, Kiewit and Hatch eventually chosen from a shortlist of three groups. The consortium will use an integrated project delivery model for the two-lane 1.2km bridge with a pedestrian and cycle path over the Cataraqui River will connect
  • Testing and striping underway for Seattle’s Alaskan Way tunnel
    August 31, 2018
    Crews have been working flat out on the Alaskan Way Tunnel in Seattle to install and test thousands of components and 90 interconnected systems. The client, Washing State Department of Transportation, said that Seattle Tunnel Partners began installation inside the double-deck State Route 99 tunnel in March after crews completed construction of the upper and lower roadways. STP said that testing could be complete by as early as late September and the tunnel could open as soon as this fall after an ap