Construction to start Vancouver’s CAD$500mn Stanley Park water tunnel project
08 November 2024
One of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada’s most recognisable public spaces – Stanley Park – will be home to a years-long water utility construction project, which is slated to kick-off mid-November.
The scope of the project consists of replacing a nearly 100-year-old north-south water main tunnel, which provides the drinking supply for Vancouver and nearby Richmond. A major leak in 2016 and a minor leak in 2023 led to development of the plan.
Workers will install a new 1.4km water supply tunnel underneath the waterfront park and two new valve chambers to control the flow of water through mains in the locale. Three vertical shafts will be constructed at Stanley Park to excavate the tunnel, install the new water main and build the valve chambers.
A contract valued at CAD$495 million (US$356 million) was awarded to JV Burrard-Chilco Partnership, which consists of Canada-based construction firms and affiliates EBC, Pomerleau and Spie Batignolles Canada (SBC). SBC is a regional subsidiary of France-based Spie Batignolles.
The project is expected to finish in 2029.