Massey Tunnel replacement budget rises to $8.5 billion: province

The province announced a new budget and completion date for the Fraser River Tunnel on Monday, July 6, seeing the Massey Tunnel's replacement costs shift to an estimated $8.5 billion.

Updated plans for the Massey Tunnel’s replacement project have the budget rising to $8.5 billion and its completion date shifting to September 2031, according to the province.

This new budget includes up to $3 billion in federal funding, with the rest coming from B.C. The Fraser River Tunnel project is slated to feature eight lanes, doubling the crossing capabilities of the Massey Tunnel.

Monday’s announcement more than doubles the project’s estimated 2021 budget of $4.15 billion. Its new estimated completion date of September 2031 marks a nine-month delay from the original date.

The Fraser River Tunnel project has seen changes as of late, with the B.C. government announcing in June that it had moved on from its lead contractor in favour of a new procurement model that divides construction into multiple packages.

At the time, the province said the move would not increase the cost to taxpayers or delay the project’s completion.

In a statement, B.C.’s minister of transportation and transit, Mike Farnworth, said the “revised procurement approach we announced earlier this month will help ensure we secure the best value for taxpayers and jobs for local workers while maintaining momentum on this critical project.”

The province says no work has been lost in the move to a new procurement model, and adds the design has remained unchanged.

“While the project schedule has shifted slightly, the timeline still remains broadly in line with what we originally anticipated for a project of this scale and complexity,” Farnworth added.

“The updated timeline is not the result of the revised procurement approach, but the schedule reflects the time required to complete key planning and approvals processes, while ensuring we continue to deliver the best value for taxpayers. Our focus remains on delivering this critical infrastructure project safely, responsibly and successfully for the region.”

Major construction on the Fraser River Tunnel is expected to begin in 2027.