Alberta Transportation (TRANS) developed a new Design-Build (DB) project delivery framework to complement its traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) delivery mechanism and the successful Public-Private-Partnership (P3) or Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO) delivery process. The new DB process incorporated all benefits and efficiencies of the P3 process as well as the rigorous quality assurance procedures of the DBB contracts. TRANS successfully implemented the DB process on a systems interchange at Anthony Henday Drive (AHD) and Stony Plain Road (SPR)/100 Avenue in Edmonton. The DB process provided substantial cost savings over the DBB approach and also allowed the interchange to be opened to traffic one year earlier on November 4, 2011.

1. 15th Annual Transportation Conference
March 19 – 20, 2012
Sheraton Hotel, Red Deer, Alberta
Alberta’s Transportation’s
First Design-Build (DB) Project –
Stony Plain Road Interchange
Aamer Shakoor
Urban Construction Engineer - Edmonton
Alberta Transportation

2. Why Design-Build (DB)?
• The stimulus for a new project delivery mechanism was Alberta
Transportation’s need to deliver medium to large complex transportation
projects on time and budget.
• Prior to development of the new DB framework, Alberta Transportation had
two delivery mechanisms, traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) and Public-
Private-Partnership (P3) or Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO) contracts.
• The department had issues in delivering medium to large projects on time
and budget using the traditional DBB delivery. For example, projects like
Southwest Anthony Henday Drive, Northwest Stoney Trail and Highway 63
had timing and budget issues.
• The key issue was the development of a new contracting process for timely
delivery of such projects which are too small to be successfully delivered
through P3 or DBFO contracts, and too large to be delivered by a multitude
of contracts in a traditional way using the DBB approach.
• The new DB process expanded the department’s “toolbox” of project delivery
options and provided value for money through a fixed cost and schedule.

3. Principal Features Of Alberta Transportation’s
DBB Process
• Alberta Transportation has comfort in its established standards of
design and construction.
• Designers and builders are familiar with this process.
• The project delivery schedule can be lengthy due to the consecutive
nature of the process.
• Final costs are unknown until the project is completed and the actual
cost may exceed the predicted cost in the lowest bid at tender/award
stage.

4. Concerns Regarding Delivery Of Medium To Large
Transportation Projects Via Traditional DBB Delivery
• Budget reductions during delivery process.
• Contractors' preference for separate bridge and road contracts and
not combination contracts.
• Domino effect created by one contractor being late.
• Budget overruns due to scope change, and cost escalation through
the course of the project as each contract gets tendered.
• Difficulty in managing large complex projects using multiple contracts
(department and consultants).

5. Principal Features Of Alberta Transportation’s
P3 Process
• A fixed price for the project is known at the time of award.
• A firm commitment to the construction completion date is made by
the successful proponent upon execution of the DBFO Agreement
since payments do not begin until the operation and maintenance
period commences.
• Since price and payments are based on a program of maintenance
and rehabilitation proposed by the team, the operation and
maintenance contractor is strongly motivated to ensuring the quality
of the project during both the design and construction phases. The
financial entity on the proponent’s team shares the same interests.
• The procurement process (RFQ and RFP) has been well accepted to
date.
• Alberta Transportation has less control over design and construction
methods.

6. Main Reasons For Success Of P3 Projects
• Teaming up of consultants and contractors at an early stage.
• Risk transfer to the party best in position to manage the risk.
• Operation and maintenance transferred to the contractor for a 30-
year period.
Edmonton Ring Road (Anthony Henday Drive) P3 Projects:
• Northwest Ring Road $1,420 Million
• Southeast Ring Road: $493 Million

7. Anthony Henday Drive

8. Development Of The DB Process Included:
• Researching other jurisdictions’ DB processes.
• Assessing the benefits & shortcomings of the departments’ DBB &
P3 processes in order to implement the best features from each as
appropriate.
• Development of a risk allocation matrix.
• Preparation of standard templates for Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) and Request for Proposals (RFP).
• Preparation of a standard template for DB Agreement.
• Preparation of Technical Specifications. (This took approximately
six months and resulted in 647 pages of new specifications).
• Feedback from Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA) and Alberta
Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA) was
obtained during the process development.

9. Key Features Of The DB Procurement Model
• Progress Payments
- Monthly progress payments.
• Holdback
- 10% holdback deducted from each progress payment.
• Warranty
- A 2-year warranty for both road and bridge works.
• Penalty for late completion
- A $10,000 per day penalty implemented for late completion.
• Quality Management
- For the first DB project for the department, it was decided to implement a
rigorous quality management plan.
• Honoraria
- The honoraria paid to the unsuccessful RFP proponents was $600,000.

10. Procurement Of Stony Plain Road Interchange
• Anthony Henday Drive (AHD) and Stony
Plain Road (SPR)/100 Avenue (AHD/SPR)
interchange was identified as a pilot
project for DB delivery. This interchange is
the largest of the southwest AHD
interchanges.
• The DB procurement process generated a
lot of interest from the construction and
consulting industry.
• The DB procurement model used on this
project resulted in substantial cost savings
compared to a traditional DBB model.
• The DB process allowed the completion of
this interchange one year earlier than the
traditional DBB method of project delivery.
• “New Design-Build (DB) Project Delivery
Framework” received 2011 Minister's and
Premier’s Awards of Excellence.

11. Project Scope
• The Stony Plain Road project is a full
systems interchange with seven bridges
and free flow in all directions.
• Conversion of 6 km, four lane section of
Anthony Henday Drive to a six lane
freeway standard with grading for an eight
lane ultimate configuration.
• Rehabilitation of 3 km of existing road.
• Elimination of 4 signalized at-grade
intersections.
• Median widening for safety.
• All bridges comprised of pre-cast NU
girders.
• Wick drains used under all approach
embankments.
• Borrow obtained within the TUC.
• The ultimate stage will be triggered by
traffic volumes and is forecast to take
place in about 25-30 years.

12. Project Schedule
• RFQ – August 5, 2008
• RFP – September 22, 2008
• Contract Awarded – March 3,
2009
• Contract Value – $168.6 Million
• Traffic Availability – November 4,
2011
• Warranty Period – 2 years

13. The Team
• Client
– Owner – Alberta Transportation
– Owner's Engineer – AECOM
• Contractor’s Team
– Prime Contractor – Kiewit/PCL,
a Joint Venture
– Designer – CH2MHill

14. Challenges
• Construction on existing roadway
• Traffic accommodation – keeping
minimal disruption to existing
traffic & local businesses.
• Unfavourable geotechnical
conditions – Compressible soils,
up to 4.5 m peat/moss
encountered – 125,000 m2 of 50
mm thick insulation was installed
in the roadway to prevent frost
heave.
• Utility relocations including major
pipelines
• Inclement weather

15. Precast Concrete Deck Panels
• Alberta Transportation used pre-cast concrete
deck panels for the first time on this project.
• These panels measured 3m by 2.5m by 90 mm
and were placed on top of bridge girders.
• These panels accelerated the construction
schedule and reduced traffic delays for
motorists.
• These panels reduced work hazards and
number of workers required on site to place
panels.
• There was no need for extensive bridge
formwork.
• Placement of these panels is not weather-
dependent, so these can be placed throughout
winter and with minimal disruption to traffic.
• Performance of these panels will be monitored
over time to assess how well these perform
under Edmonton's climate.

16. Any Questions?