Infrastructure Ontario released a request for qualifications (RFQ) yesterday to pre-qualify and shortlist project teams to deliver the Highway 407 East Phase 2 project.

The request for qualifications is the first step in the procurement process to select a team to design, build, finance and maintain Phase 2 of Highway 407 East. The project will:

• Extend Highway 407 eastward from Harmony Road in Oshawa to Highway 35/115
• Provide a new 10-kilometre East Durham Link to connect Highway 407 East and Highway 401, east of Oshawa
• Provide eight new interchanges, including three freeway-to-freeway connections to Highway 407 East and Highway 401 from the East Durham Link and highway 35/115

Once complete, Highway 407 East will help ease traffic congestion in the GreaterToronto Area and improve the flow of goods, services and people in the region.

Submissions will be evaluated to pre-qualify project teams with relevant design, construction and maintenance capabilities and experience, the qualified personnel and the financial strength to deliver a project of this size and complexity. Only teams shortlisted from this process will be invited to respond to a request for proposals.

In January 2009, the province announced that Highway 407 East would be tolled. The province will retain control and ownership of the highway, and will be responsible for setting the toll rates.

Highway 407 East Phase 1 is under construction and is expected to be open to traffic in late 2015. The first segment of Phase 2, which will run from Harmony Road to Taunton/East Durham Link is expected be open to traffic in 2017, with the remainder to be completed by 2020. A team composed of Cintra (Ferrovial), SNC Lavalin and Intoll (Macquarie)  won the tender for Highway 407 East Phase 1.

Many national and international infrastructure developers together with infrastructure funds are expected to submit qualification documents for this project.

Source: Infrastructure Ontario