Infrastructure Ontario shortlists five bidders for GO Transit expansion project

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has prequalified five teams to build and finance GO Transit's Lakeshore East-Central Corridor expansion project.

Teams were chosen based on their construction capability, experience, qualified personnel and financial capacity to deliver a project of this size and scope, IO officials said in a press release.

The five teams are EllisDon Infrastructure Transit; SNC-Lavalin Team; Dragados Canada Inc.; Steel Head Constructors; and Lakeshore Rail Construction Partners.

The expansion will include two grade separations and track and grading work along 2.1 miles of the Lakeshore East commuter-rail line.

In spring 2018, IO expects to release a request for proposals to the prequalified bidders.

The project will support the larger GO Regional Express Rail (RER) plan, which is aimed at providing faster and more frequent transit service across the Toronto and Hamilton area. The RER project includes the electrification of core segments of the GO rail network by 2024 or 2025.

Several major infrastructure upgrades — including the Lakeshore East expansion project — are needed to make way for RER service improvements.

IO and GO Transit parent agency Metrolinx in August 2017 issued a request for qualifications for firms interested in building the Lakeshore East-Central Corridor expansion.