The Canadian Government has shortlisted three consortia for the Tłı̨chǫ All Season Road (TASR).

As we reported in March, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to design, build, finance, operate and maintain an all-season road to Whatì.

The three shorlisted teams are:

• Graham, Tetra Tech, Colas
• Kiewit, Miller, Hatch
• North American Construction, Eiffage

The three proponents will be invited to participate in the next stage of the procurement process, the Request for Proposals stage, pending a decision on the environmental assessment for the project. Technical and financial proposal deadlines are scheduled for May and June 2018, respectively. 

The project is expected to be awarded in July 2018.

The project involves the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of a 97km all-season gravel highway from kilometer 196 of Highway 3 to the community of Whatì. The total investment of the project is expected to amount to CAD175 million (US$132 million). The contract will be a 29 year contract, with four years of construction and 25 years of operations.

The all-season road will also provide access to new areas of undeveloped mineral resources, opening the door for industry to unlock the region’s full economic potential.

All-season roads are critical to adapting the NWT transportation system to the impacts of climate change, helping support more resilient and reliable infrastructure. By replacing the southern section of the existing winter road serving the region, the Tłįchǫ All-season Road will not only provide year-round access to Whatì but will also increase the window of access to the communities of Gamètì and Wekweètì.