Acciona-Ghella JV awarded C$1.7 billion contract for Vancouver’s Broadway Subway Project

The government of British Columbia awarded Broadway Subway Project Corporation, an Acciona-Ghella joint venture, a contract to deliver the Broadway Subway – a 5.7-kilometer (3.5-mile) extension of the Millennium Line in Vancouver.  

“As we restore the economy through BC’s Restart Plan, major infrastructure projects like the Broadway Subway line will be key to our recovery,” said British Columbia Premier John Horgan. “When completed, the Broadway Subway will transform how people get around in Vancouver. It will mean faster travel to work and school, better access to local business and fewer cars on the road.”

The Acciona-Ghella joint venture was named as the preferred proponent in July to design, build and partially finance the Broadway Subway project. The contract is valued at C$1.728 billion (US$1.32 billion) with construction slated to begin in fall 2020 and the line opening for service in 2025.

The project will be delivered under the province’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), will increase training and apprenticeship opportunities and prioritize hiring locals, Indigenous peoples, women, people with disabilities and other traditionally under-represented groups, including youth, who want to build a career in the skilled trades. BC Infrastructure Benefits is responsible for implementing the CBA for the project and will be the employer for much of the skilled workforce on the project.

The C$2.83 billion (US$2.16 billion) Broadway Subway project will be funded and delivered by the government of British Columbia, with contributions from the government of Canada and the city of Vancouver. The province says the Broadway Subway project is a key part of the rapid transit program in Metro Vancouver’s Mayors’ Council 10-Year Vision, which is funded by the governments of British Columbia and Canada, TransLink and local municipalities.

Transportation Investment Corporation (TI Corp) is leading the delivery of the Broadway Subway Project on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. TI Corp will provide the controls, practices and other oversight that are essential for this complex project.

“The Broadway corridor is the second-largest employment center in B.C. with more than 85,000 jobs, but growing traffic congestion and transit overcrowding are impacting economic growth and the quality of life for our residents,” said Kennedy Stewart, mayor of Vancouver.

In addition to providing service to the Broadway corridor, the subway project will connect to healthcare services, an emerging innovation and research hub and growing residential communities.

Commute times will be greatly improved with a trip from VCC-Clark to Arbutus Station scheduled to take 11 minutes, which the province says will save the average transit commuter nearly 30 minutes per day.

“The Broadway Subway is being constructed along the busiest bus corridor in our region, which was also home to the most used bus route in Canada and the United States last year,” said Kevin Desmond, CEO, TransLink. “This important project will transform the region’s transportation network, reduce congestion and improve travel times for our customers.”