Why won’t the Adelaide Underpass start construction until 2021?
While moving this project ahead from 2031 to 2021 is great news, many are wondering why we have to wait another three years to start construction. Here is a good explanation from our engineering staff:
“Questions have been asked about why construction on the Adelaide underpass won’t start until 2021. The City is working hard to accelerate this project, which was originally planned for 2031.
City Council has approved the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA), which starts the legislated 30 day review period. As with all EAs of this type, concerned stakeholders can request a Part II Order to the provincial government if they feel that the EA process has not been adequate or key concerns have not been addressed. While the Province has legislated response times, they start once the Minister deems all required information has been received from the City, which is often an iterative process and could continue into 2019.
One important reason the project isn’t starting construction until 2021 relates to the need to manage impacts on neighbouring properties. Throughout 2019 and 2020, property acquisition will occur. Four properties likely need to be fully acquired and 13 more will likely be impacted. The City works with each property owner to negotiate fair compensation for the required land. It’s also important that we provide property owners enough time to relocate where that is required.
At the same time, we will need to finalize a number of aspects of the project with Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Some of that work can occur while design is underway, but some of it may need to wait until the design process is complete.
Detailed design and tender preparation will take about 24 months. This is due to the complexity of the project, including significant upgrades to underground water, wastewater and drainage systems; the redesign and improvement of three adjacent intersections; and, the careful management of the impacts to the rail yards and other neighbouring properties. Correspondingly, the contractors bidding the project will need time to respond to the tender and we will need time to review their bids in detail. That means we won’t be done the design and tendering process until later in 2020. That means the earliest a tender could be awarded is early in 2021.
The accompanying graphic provides a high-level timeline for the project.”