Delta is part of a series of major Metro Vancouver tunnel water supply upgrade projects.
An update report to the regional district’s Water Committee notes the water transmission system is going to be upgraded to ensure resilience in the event of an earthquake.
Included are six major water supply tunnels being managed and delivered by Metro’s Project Delivery department.
In various stages of planning, design and construction, the projects include Second Narrows Water Supply Tunnel, Annacis Water Supply Tunnel, Stanley Park Water Supply Tunnel, Cambie‐Richmond Water Supply Tunnel, Pitt River Water Supply Tunnel and the Lulu Delta Water Supply Tunnel.
“These high risk, high value, and complex projects are in various stages of design and construction and are being designed to meet current seismic standards, protect against scour and other marine activities, and meet the drinking water needs of the growing region,” the report notes.
“Once complete, these projects will significantly contribute to Metro Vancouver’s goals to ensure that the transmission components of the drinking water system are expanded and strengthened to allow the continued supply of high‐quality drinking water to the region’s residents and businesses,” the report adds.
The Lulu Delta Water Supply Tunnel isa n up to two-kilometre-long marine crossing deep under the Fraser River from Richmond to Delta, located near the George Massey Tunnel.
Currently at the definition/conceptual design stage, the new water supply tunnel will replace the existing Lulu Delta crossing which is near the end of its service life.
The report also explains that the project consists of a new welded steel water main crossing constructed using a trenchless method such as tunneling, micro‐tunneling or horizontal directional drilling, which is to be confirmed during the project definition phase.
The request for proposals for the project definition closed in early October and is anticipated to commence in late 2024 or early 2025, while construction is currently anticipated to commence in 2032.
The conceptual design budget is $5 million.
The report adds that the project is located in close proximity to the new George Massey Tunnel Replacement project, which will require close coordination with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff on logistics, schedule and workspace requirements. Those discussions have commenced.
At this time, the total expenditures projected for each projects phase are not anticipated to exceed the budget amounts, the report notes.
