No H034/13
For release - April 17, 2013
OTTAWA — The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, has issued a request for proposals for laboratory services and geotechnical studies in relation to the construction of the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.
"Building a new bridge for the St. Lawrence continues to be a priority. The information from these services and studies is essential to the design and construction of strong, durable infrastructure," said Minister Lebel. "We are continuing consultations with stakeholders and working on the environmental assessment as well as the business case, and we are keeping to the timetable for this major project."
The request for proposals concerns the following technical services:
- boring in soils and rock;
- investigations of the quality and properties of materials at the approaches to the new bridge and along existing roadways;
- laboratory tests of samples taken from the site to evaluate the mechanical properties of the rock and soils and to determine the environmental quality of the soils, sediments and groundwater;
- geophysical investigations to identify geological features; and
- other laboratory services.
This information will feed into the next steps in project development and planning and will also serve as important input to the final design of the new bridge for the St. Lawrence.
The request for proposals, which is being handled by Public Works and Government Services Canada, is posted on MERX, the Government Electronic Tendering Service (www.merx.com). The contract award should be announced in late June 2013.
On October 5, 2011, Minister Lebel announced that the Government of Canada would be building new infrastructure to replace the Champlain Bridge. This bridge is one of the busiest in Canada, with $20 billion worth of international trade crossing it every year. The Champlain Bridge is a crucial corridor for the regional economy and for Canada as a whole. The project also meets the objectives of Canada's gateway strategies.
"Our government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security," concluded Minister Lebel.
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