Engineers play an important role in designing the critical transportation infrastructure that connects communities throughout B.C. From highways and bridges to transit systems, well-designed and planned transportation systems are essential for economic development and connectivity.
B.C.’s leading engineering firms are helping to deliver several mega infrastructure projects which will improve the province’s most critical transportation corridors. Three projects were highlighted during a session at the 2025 ACEC-BC Transportation Conference.
Major construction is underway on the first rapid-transit project south of the Fraser River in 30 years. The $6 billion Surrey Langley SkyTrain project will extend rapid transit 16 kilometres, primarily along Fraser Highway on an elevated guideway from King George Station in Surrey to 203 Street in Langley City. It includes eight stations and three transit exchanges at the Bakerview-166 Street, Willowbrook and Langley City Centre stations.
Significant progress was made in 2024, with 90 per cent of right-of-ways cleared and drilling and piling at the 152 Street, 166 Street and 184 Street station sites with 15 foundation piles completed, according to Gilles Assier, executive project director for the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain Project Transportation Investment Corporation.
The complex project is being delivered by three contractors: Skylink Guideway Parnters (guideway), South Fraser Station Partners (stations) and Transit Integrators BC (systems and trackwork).
Casting of guideway segments will begin in April at a pre-cast concrete facility in Campbell Heights with 40 per cent of all segments expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Foundation construction has also started for three stations: Green Timbers, Fleetwood, Clayton and Langley City Centre.
“Looking ahead, it’s going to be a very busy year. We have the majority of utility work done and will start construction of guideway spans and the installation of 200 guideway piers and columns,” he said, noting more than 30 engineering firms are involved with the project. “The province is excited to deliver such a transformative infrastructure project…that will reshape transit in the region.”
Another significant project is the $4 billion Fraser River Tunnel Project, which will replace the George Massey Tunnel.
The new crossing will be a toll-free, eight-lane immersed tube tunnel that includes three general-purpose travel lanes and a dedicated public transit lane in each direction. The new tunnel will also feature a separate multi-use path to support walking, biking and other active transportation options.
The Fraser River Tunnel project will be the fifth widest tunnel in the world, said Donald Trapp, executive project director, Transportation Investment Corporation.
The new tunnel will be made of six tunnel elements. Each element will weigh approximately 60,000 tonnes and will be 130 x 45 metres or about the size of a football field.
Trapp explained the tunnel elements will be made on Deas Island to promote efficiency and reduce construction traffic in the region.
Cross Fraser Partnership, collaborating with the province through the development phase, is comprised of Bouygues Construction Canada Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Pomerleau BC Inc. and Arcadis Canada Inc.
The project will be delivered through a collaborative Progressive Design-Build. The construction contract is expected to be awarded in 2025 with work beginning in 2026. When completed in 2030, the tunnel will reduce traffic congestion and improve reliability.
Traffic congestion is also being addressed with the Fraser Valley Hwy 1 Corridor Improvement Program, a large-scale highway widening initiative between Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Sarah Gaib, engineering director, BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit, provided an overview and an update on current work. The project is in phase 2 with highway widening between 216th and 264th streets and the replacement of the 232nd interchange. The existing cloverleaf interchange at 264th Street is also being replaced.
“The 264th interchange is a showcase project for the corridor and is being delivered through design build procurement. It will be B.C.’s first ever divergent diamond interchange and on the third in Canada,” said Gaib.
Cheryl Mah is managing editor of Construction Business.
