Madrid, March 11 (EFECOM).- The ACS Group has been selected as the best proposal to design, build and finance the SkyTrain light rail line extension project in Vancouver (Canada), whose total budget is of around 2.8 billion euros. (4 billion Canadian dollars).

For this project, for which Acciona was also a candidate, the group chaired by Florentino Pérez, through its subsidiary Dragados Canada, is in consortium with Ledcor and Systra International Bridge Technologies.

As noted in a statement from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure of the government of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the official announcement of the award is expected to take place in the coming months.

The Surrey Langley SkyTrain project is a 16-kilometre extension of the Expo Line from King George Station to downtown Langley, the first expansion of rapid transit south of the Fraser River in 30 years.

Construction of the SkyTrain extension between Surrey and Langley is expected to begin in 2024 and will run along an elevated track connecting downtown to Fleetwood and Cloverdale/Clayton.

SkyTrain is a driverless light rail system, the oldest and one of the longest in the world.

It has three lines: the Expo and Millenium lines, which connect downtown Vancouver to the surrounding cities of Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey, and the Canada line, which connects downtown Vancouver to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the City of Richmond.

Once the project commissioned from ACS is complete, a transportation option will be provided to all users in Surrey, Langley and Metro Vancouver.

Construction of the said project, which is being executed under three separate contracts, is expected to begin this year.

In addition to the elevated track and associated roadworks, utilities and active transportation elements, the Canadian province is continuing its assessments for the design and construction of eight new stations, including active transportation elements such as trails walking and cycling routes around the new stations, as well as the design, installation and testing of electrical systems.

As the Canadian province begins final contract negotiations with the ACS consortium, some preliminary preparation work will begin, such as geotechnical studies, utility location or brush clearing.

According to the contracting agency, it is working closely with the consortium and local governments to plan this work, and it is expected that impacts to the public will be minimal during this stage. EFECOM

csb/sgb