Excavating the “backbone” of the Montreal metro’s blue line extension will ultimately cost at least $1.1 billion. It is the builder Pomerleau, leading the only consortium in the running, that will be responsible for drilling the tunnel and digging three of the five future stations.
The story so far
March 2022: The budget for the extension of the blue line is set at 6.4 billion. Quebec then aims for 2029.
September 2023: The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) admits that it no longer hopes to inaugurate the five new stations before 2030.
July 2024: A further cost increase is confirmed and the project will not see the light of day until 2031 or later.
August 2024: The contract to drill the tunnel is awarded to the consortium led by Pomerleau, at a cost of $1.1 billion.
This was confirmed by The Press several well-informed sources, but not authorized to speak publicly. Time was pressing in this matter: the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) had to sign this enormous contract before July 30.
The said contract was formally awarded in recent days to the Mobilité Bleu Horizon consortium, led by Pomerleau and composed of the manufacturer EBC and the French company SPIES Batignolles.
Together, these three companies will be responsible for drilling the new tunnel using a tunnel boring machine, as well as excavating the future stations opposite Pie-IX, Viau and Lacordaire boulevards, three of the five metro stations planned in the project.
The total bill reaches 1.1 billion dollars. Discussions have taken place in recent months between the consortium and the Blue Line project office, leading to a reduction in the price of the mandate of a few tens of millions of dollars compared to the price initially submitted.
By email, the STM confirmed that “the contract has been awarded.” “However, we cannot confirm the details given that an announcement will be made to this effect with the project partners by the end of the summer,” is all STM spokesperson Kevin Bilodeau would say about the extension of the blue line.
A joint release coming soon
A technical estimate will be prepared by then and sent to elected officials, including Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault, who will be present at this announcement. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is also expected to be there, as is federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez.
This announcement should come shortly before the start of consultations on Mobilité Infra Québec, the Legault government’s transportation agency, which is supposed to reduce the costs and delays of public transportation projects, and which could be closely involved in the completion of the extension of the blue line, even if the main pilot remains the STM.
The process of awarding this ambitious contract began more than two years ago. Interested bidders had until 1er last February to submit their bid, which was to remain valid for 180 days, hence the July deadline. Until now, the STM has always refused to officially reveal the result of this call for tenders.
Mid-July, The Press revealed that the Montreal metro extension project to Anjou would be longer and more expensive than expected, rising to nearly $8 billion, according to a document recently submitted to Quebec. The Legault government also anticipates at least one more year of delay.
In total, it will now cost at least 7.6 billion and its delivery will not take place before 2031, at best. We were talking about 2026 at the start of the pandemic, then 2029 in recent years, 2030 since September.
Pomerleau remains silent
Pomerleau, for his part, declined to comment on the awarding of the contract. “We invite you to contact the STM,” his public relations advisor, Alicia Dufour, simply replied.
The Press had already revealed that the consortium had long been the only one in the running for the contract. Last fall, it had threatened to withdraw from the process if the terms of the contract were not changed to its advantage.
The strategy had led to certain modifications: the STM had notably agreed to reduce the planned late fees, as well as the amount of the required financial guarantee letter.
Last September, the project’s top boss defended the award of the contract even in a scenario with a single bidder.
“Even if, ultimately, there is only one price submitted, the process is compliant, so we can technically move forward with the awarding of the contract,” Maha Clour argued at the time. “We listened to the market. We adapted. And we expect the market to adapt to us as well. We expect the price or prices submitted to reflect the best price for the work that needs to be done.”
As for the future, this is not the only contract for the extension of the blue line in the sights of the Mobilité Bleu Horizon consortium. The group of companies has also submitted the best offer for the “excavation of the future Langelier station”, a separate contract.
According to the Quebec government’s public tendering platform (SEAO), Mobilité Bleu Horizon offered to do the work for $58 million, while its closest competitor was asking for $66 million. The contract is still “awaiting conclusion,” the platform says.
The final station of the eastern extension, planned for Anjou, will also be the subject of a separate contract, but the planned or expected cost is still unknown, as the call for tenders is still in progress.