Aecon Group Inc. announced today that Aecon-EBC General Partnership (AEGP), a consortium between Aecon (60%) and EBC (40%) in which Aecon is the lead partner, has been awarded the first phase of a $245 million two-phase civil construction contract for the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade project in Campbell River, British Columbia. The scope of work involves upgrading earth stabilizing infrastructure to improve the seismic resiliency of the existing John Hart Dam.
“BC Hydro is planning seismic upgrades at John Hart Dam to ensure the facility continues to deliver safe, reliable power,” said BC Hydro’s Stephen Watson. “We’re pleased to award the civil work contract to the Aecon-EBC General Partnership who have a previous history of building and upgrading hydroelectric projects. We look forward to working closely with the contractor’s team as we plan for construction this summer and continuing through 2026.”
An Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase will commence in the fourth quarter of 2022 to collaboratively plan and prepare for construction. 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.
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 CEO, 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.”
Featured image: John Hart Dam. (BC Hydro)
