Chinook wins Alberta’s biggest road contract

Chinook Roads, a joint venture partnership between SNC-Lavalin and Acciona has won the CAD$ 769 million (US$ 763 million) design, build, operation and maintenance contract for the southeast section of the Stoney Trail ring road in Calgary, Canada.

The 30-year public private partnership contract involves partial financing as well the design and build of 25 km of six-lane road, including nine interchanges, a road flyover, two rail flyovers and 27 bridges. Construction of what is the largest single highway project in Alberta's history is set to start in May this year with completion scheduled for the autumn of 2013.

The Alberta government will advance CAD$ 232 million (US$ 230 million) during the construction phase while the federal government will provide CAD$ 100 million (US$ 99 million) through the Major Infrastructure Component of the Building Canada Plan. Once the road opens to traffic, the Alberta government will make monthly payments over the remaining 30 years of the contract.

Executive vice president of SNC-Lavalin, Jim Burke said, "We look forward to putting our expertise to work in Alberta, and to a long and successful relationship with the City of Calgary."