Ontario Construction News staff writer
Infrastructure Ontario says the request for proposals stage has closed for teams to submit their bids for the QEW Garden City Skyway – Bridge Twinning project in Niagara which will see a new twin bridge built north of the existing bridge across the Welland Canal.
Following a request for qualifications process five teams were shortlisted and invited to respond to a request for proposals in March 2024, with four teams submitting by the deadline. The teams are Garden City Connectors, Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, Skyway Bridging Partners, and SkyTwin Partners (formerly AtkinsRealisMajor Projects Inc.).
Proposals will be evaluated by Infrastructure Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The top-ranked team will enter a development phase, expected to start in spring 2025, and work collaboratively with IO and MTO to finalize the project agreement and complete the detailed design.
Once the development phase is complete IO and MTO will have the option to enter into a project agreement for the construction of the new bridge with the successful team.
The project scope of work calls for construction of the 2.2-kilometre twin bridge connecting St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake north of the existing bridge across the Welland Canal. Also included is work to widen the QEW on approaches to the new bridge, realign local roads, build pier protections systems, retaining walls and stormwater management ponds, and relocate affected utilities.
Upon completion of the bridge, traffic from the existing bridge will be temporarily switched onto the newly constructed bridge to allow for rehabilitation of the existing Garden City Skyway bridge.
