Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Yukon government has terminated the engineering contract for the Nisutlin Bay Bridge replacement project, saying different expertise is needed to move the project forward.
Highways and Public Works Minister Linda Benoit said the territory has also mutually agreed with lead contractor Graham Infrastructure LP to end the current construction contract on the project, which has been described by the government as the largest capital project in Yukon history.
“As part of this transition, the Government of Yukon and Graham Infrastructure LP, the project’s lead contractor, have mutually agreed to end the current construction contract,” Benoit said in a May 5 statement.
“This decision supports a cost-effective path forward while reducing the risk of delays or additional expenses.”
The outgoing engineering consultant, WSP, has not yet been replaced.
Benoit said remediation design work is expected to be completed in the coming months, after which the remaining construction work will be tendered again.
“This approach will help ensure a smooth transition to the next stage and position the project for successful completion,” she said.
Graham Infrastructure LP has completed most of the work on the bridge to date.
Construction on the replacement bridge began in 2022 beside the existing Nisutlin Bay Bridge on the Alaska Highway near Teslin, Yukon. The current bridge, originally designed in 1953 by the Department of National Defence, opened to traffic in the mid-1950s and is nearing the end of its service life.
The project was initially awarded to Graham Infrastructure LP for $160 million in May 2022, but costs have since climbed to approximately $194 million.
Benoit attributed much of the increase to changes in Fisheries Act authorization requirements, which added nearly $24 million to the project, along with a separate $10-million change order.
“The Government of Yukon is continuing work to advance the project into its next phase, focused on finalizing a long-term remediation solution and preparing for construction to resume,” Benoit said.
“In the meantime, the existing Nisutlin Bay Bridge remains safe and fully operational and will continue to be maintained and monitored as work progresses toward completion of the new bridge.”
The Yukon government signed a project charter with the Teslin Tlingit Council in 2019 for the bridge replacement. Officials said the new structure was designed with community input and in collaboration with the First Nation.
The replacement bridge is intended to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians, accommodate increased traffic volumes and support heavier commercial and strategic loads travelling between Yukon and Alaska.