News Release Archive
TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNICATIONS--HIGHWAY 104 PARTNER SELECTED ------------------------------------------------------------ Negotiations will start soon with Atlantic Highways Corporation for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of Highway 104, the Western Alignment, Transportation and Communications Minister Richie Mann announced today. "This is an important step toward the completion of that highway, and the solution to a serious and growing safety concern on our main artery," Mr. Mann said. "It is also an important milestone in the development of public-private partnerships in Nova Scotia---and establishes this province in the forefront of solid, professional public-private projects." Atlantic Highways Corporation includes Canadian Highways International Corporation, the group which developed Ontario's Highway 407, and two local construction firms, Nova and Tidewater, supported by a strong team of environmental, engineering, legal, financial and project management consultants. The consortium was selected by a selection team of three deputy ministers following an intensive analysis and evaluation by a review team of technical, engineering, financial, legal, business and professional civil servants and private consultants. "Cabinet was informed this morning by the committee of the selection of Atlantic Highways Corporation and authorized the Department of Transportation and Communications to begin negotiations with the intent of ratifying a contract as soon as possible," Mr. Mann said. The selection was based on criteria set out in a request for proposals issued in August to three consortia. The criteria included such features as the financing package, the toll collection structure and preliminary levels, engineering and design quality, and environmental management plan. The province has been seeking a private partner for the highway project to allow construction to be completed in advance of the construction schedule that would be possible if the government were to provide 100 per cent of the required funding. Following a pre-qualification process completed this year, three consortia were invited to bid. -30- Contact: Donna McCready 902-424-8687 trp Nov. 09, 1995