This summer marks a significant milestone for the Fraser River Tunnel Project, as the preferred proponent, Cross Fraser Partnership, has been selected to advance the next stage of design for the new toll-free, eight-lane tunnel set to replace the aging George Massey Tunnel.

Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, announced, “This is a huge step for the Fraser River Tunnel Project. With this team in place, we can finalize the project design and ready it for construction, improving travel for people moving along Highway 99 between Richmond and Delta.”

The upcoming tunnel will replace the George Massey Tunnel with a state-of-the-art, toll-free, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel. This includes three general-purpose travel lanes and a dedicated public transit lane in each direction. Additionally, the tunnel will feature a separate multi-use path to support walking, biking, and other active transportation options.

Dan Coulter, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, emphasized, “We’re addressing traffic congestion at this bottleneck to make it quicker and easier for people to get where they’re going. Dedicated lanes through the tunnel will make public transit along the corridor faster and more reliable. For the first time ever at this location, people will be able to cross the river on foot or by bike.”

Building on extensive design work already completed by the Province, the project now enters the development phase. This phase allows a transparent and collaborative approach to tunnel design and agreement on project costs and risks between the Province and Cross Fraser Partnership. The final design and cost submission will culminate in a design-build agreement.

The Cross Fraser Partnership team, which will collaborate with the Province through the development phase, includes Bouygues Construction Canada Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Pomerleau BC Inc., and Arcadis Canada Inc.

The environmental assessment continues alongside the project design development, with major construction expected to start in 2026. Ahead of the tunnel construction, the Province is delivering several corridor improvements along this vital stretch of Highway 99 to improve travel for everyone.

Transit and cycling upgrades along Highway 99 are already complete. The Steveston Interchange Project will reach a key milestone this year with the construction of the first half of the new interchange. In June 2024, crews began erecting the 21 concrete girders that will support the new interchange. Steveston Highway traffic will then move to the new structure, allowing the old overpass to be removed and work on the second segment to begin. The Steveston Interchange Project is on schedule for completion in 2025.

Kelly Greene, MLA for Richmond-Steveston, highlighted the benefits, “Along with the new eight-lane tunnel, the new five-lane Steveston Interchange under construction will make it easier for people to travel within our community. Improved transit connections, facilities for biking and walking, reduced traffic congestion, and easier access to, from, and across Highway 99 all make this project important for Steveston and Richmond residents.”

This summer, soil preloading will commence for an additional southbound lane between the Westminster and Steveston highways. Once complete, the additional Highway 99 lane will result in a consistent, eight-lane configuration from Westminster Highway in Richmond to Ladner Trunk Road in Delta, coinciding with the completion of the new eight-lane tunnel in 2030.

With these Highway 99 corridor improvements and the new tunnel in place, vehicles will travel along the corridor at 80 kilometres per hour, a significant improvement from the current average of 30 kilometres per hour.

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