An earthquake-proof tunnel that covers a distance of just half a mile will cost Canada £2.31 billion.
The 2,625 ft eight-lane immersed tube tunnel, which works out at about £880,000 per foot, should be able to withstand earthquakes, water pressure and heavy traffic loads when it opens in 2030.
Work on the mega-project is set to begin in 2026 to replace the ageing four-lane George Massey tunnel which connects Delta and Richmond in British Colombia, Cananda.
It’s hoped the toll-free tunnel could support economic development due to the improved flow of goods and people along highway 99, according to Shangeeta Snape, mobility managing director of Arcadis Canada which is putting together designs for the project.
The Fraser River Tunnel Project will have a dedicated transit lane in each direction to facilitate movement of goods, and a multi-use pathway for cyclists and pedestrians.
Segments of the tunnel are manufactured onsite or nearby and then lifted onto the seabed using the immersed design, which means it avoids deep underground excavation.
Shangeeta Snape told the New Civil Engineer the method is not only less disruptive, but it is also more cost effective because it’s faster and cheaper than border bridge alternatives.
Developers will engage with indigenous communities, who are largely from the First Nation community in British Columbia, to understand the environmental impact on marine life.
Snape added: “We do it through careful planning and environmental assessments, as well as addressing their indigenous and First Nation priorities.
“They’re all very closely linked together, and I believe there are certain times of the year that we cannot do construction because it will cause a lot of disruptions to certain types of fish and aquatic ecosystems.”
The project also includes replacing the Deas Slough Bridge and decommissioning the existing tunnel once the new immersed tube tunnel is in operation.
