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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VANCOUVER – The Ministry of
Transportation and S2S Transportation Group (S2S) have reached a final
agreement to design, build, finance, and operate the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project, Transportation Minister Kevin
Falcon and West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre announced today.
“The Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project is moving forward on time and on budget, just as we said it would,” said Falcon. “That’s great news for taxpayers, but it’s the motoring public who are the big winners. This agreement provides added value in the form of additional safety and capacity improvements beyond what we had expected.”
S2S was selected to provide the
best-value highway improvements through a competitive selection process and a
rigorous evaluation of proposals. Planned improvements include highway widening and straightening, passing lanes,
improved sightlines and other design enhancements to increase safety,
reliability and capacity between West Vancouver and Whistler.
S2S Transportation Group meets and in some cases exceeds the Request for
Proposal requirements. Highlights of the added-value highway improvements
include 20 km of additional passing lanes, 16 km of additional median barrier
and additional highly reflective pavement markings where they are most needed
to enhance safety.
The performance-based contract with S2S is structured to ensure that the
contractor has the appropriate incentives to meet or exceed the long-term
objectives of safety, reliability and capacity the ministry has set for the
project. Further incentives are included to ensure road delays and closures are
minimized and predictable, as well as to make certain that the project will be
completed on time.
“The highway is a vital link for communities along the Sea-to-Sky
corridor,” said McIntyre. “The upgraded highway will be safer and more reliable
for everyone who uses it and will stimulate economic activity for the region.”
The ministry will oversee the project, ensuring that specifications such
as highway width, number of lanes, safety requirements, sightline requirements
and signage are appropriately met. S2S Transportation Group will construct
highway improvements and maintain the system, and will assume most of the
construction, maintenance and operation risks.
The Ministry of Transportation has worked with the private sector for
decades in designing, building and maintaining highways. Experience with
similar projects worldwide suggests that this type of arrangement results in
better project definition, reduced delays, and more financial control,
including fewer cost overruns.
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Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Transportation 250 356-7707 |
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Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services. |
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