Aecon consortium awarded John Hart Dam seismic work
The dam is familiar territory for Aecon. They led the joint venture that completed a generating station replacement in 2019.
An aerial shot shows the John Hart Dam on Vancouver Island. – Aecon
Key Takeaways:
- Aecon-EBC General Partnership was selected for the first phase of a $245 million contract to do seismic upgrades on the dam.
- The work involves upgrading earth stabilizing infrastructure.
- The team is still waiting on a final project decision from BC Hydro but anticipates work could begin in 2023 and wrap up in 2026.
The Whole Story:
A consortium led by Aecon has won the first phase of a $245 million contract for work on the John Hart Dam.
Aecon-EBC General Partnership (AEGP), a consortium between Aecon (60 per cent) and EBC (40 per cent) in which Aecon is the lead partner, has been awarded the first phase of a two-phase civil construction contract for the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade project in Campbell River, B.C.
The scope of work involves upgrading earth stabilizing infrastructure to improve the seismic resiliency of the existing John Hart Dam. Aecon’s share of the contract will be added to its Construction segment backlog in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Aecon stated that an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase will begin this year to collaboratively plan and prepare for construction. The company added that upon successful completion of the ECI phase and following BC Hydro’s final project decision, BC Hydro intends to issue authorization to proceed with construction, which is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2023 with anticipated completion by the end of 2026.
Aecon is no stranger to the site. An Aecon-led joint venture completed the John Hart Generating Station Replacement project in 2019, which included the construction of a new water intake, the replacement of three penstocks with a tunnel, and the construction of a new underground generating station and water bypass facility. The innovative project was the first hydroelectric Public-Private Partnership (P3) in Canada and was recognized with the 2018 Tunnelling Association of Canada Award of Excellence.
“This project will ensure the continued supply of safe, reliable power for surrounding communities and adds another signature project to our diverse backlog in Western Canada – underscoring our preeminent reputation as the preferred contractor for complex civil construction,” said Jean-Louis Servranckx, president and chief executive officer, Aecon Group Inc. “We are proud of the critical role Aecon played in successfully delivering the John Hart Generating Station Replacement project and we look forward to working with our partner while further strengthening our relationship with BC Hydro through this collaborative approach.”
