Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) have released a request for proposals (RFP) to the three teams shortlisted to design, build, finance and maintain the Highway 427 Expansion project for a 30-year period.

As we reported in December 20015, the three highest scoring teams which have been shortlisted from a total of six competitors were the following:

• 427 Link: Plenary, AECON, Walsh, and Hatch Mott MacDonald.

• Blackbird Infrastructure Group: Cintra, CRH, Ferrovial Agroman, Dufferin, AIA Engineers, and Urban Systems Ltd.

• Link 427: ACS, Miller, Dragados, Miller Construction, BOT, and MMM Group.

Upon evaluation of the proposals by IO and MTO, a successful proponent will be announced at financial close in early 2017.

The Highway 427 Expansion project is approximately 10.6 kilometres in length and is located within the western part of the City of Vaughan in the Region of York and consists of: the extension of Highway 427 by 6.6 kilometres from Highway 7 northerly to Major Mackenzie Drive, and the widening of the existing Highway 427 to 8 lanes extending 4 kilometers along Highway 427 from approximately 1.5 km south of Albion Road northerly to Highway 7.

The project is being delivered under Infrastructure Ontario's Alternative Financing and Procurement model, which transfers risks associated with design, construction, financing and maintenance of the project to the private sector.

The total project investment is estimated at CAD$500 million (US$374 million).

Highway 427 connects the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) and Gardiner Expressway with York Regional Road 7 (Highway 7) via Highway 401. It is Ontario's second busiest freeway by volume and third busiest in North America with an average of 300,000 vehicles that use it between the QEW and Highway 401 per day. A portion of the route is divided into a collector-express system with twelve to fourteen continuous lanes.

The project is part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario'shistory. The province's 10-year, CAD$134 billion commitment is supported by a number of initiatives, including unlocking the value of public assets to help support investments in transit, transportation and other priority infrastructure projects.

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, said:

“Our government is moving forward with extending Highway 427, creating jobs and opportunities for residents and businesses living and working in the region. This is further proof of our government’s commitment to making the daily commute and quality of life better for Ontario families.”

Bert Clark, President and CEO at Infrastructure Ontario, added:

“As a reliable method to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects, our AFP model is helping to build Ontario’s highways and ensure they remain in a state of good repair. We look forward to the proposals developed by the shortlisted teams for the Highway 427 Expansion project.”