What is Access Roads Edmonton Ltd.?
Access Roads Edmonton Ltd. (AREL) is the consortium of companies selected to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the road.
AREL is led by Macquarie Essential Assets Partnership, which is managed by a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited (MGL), a recognized leader in infrastructure in Canada and around the world. Our partners include PCL Construction, Sureway Construction Management, Lafarge Canada, MMM Group, Stantec Consulting and Transportation Systems Management Inc.
What is a public-private partnership (P3)?
In a P3, the government works with the private sector to deliver essential infrastructure. Macquarie Essential Assets Partnership (MEAP) provided the financing for the project and led its partners in AREL in delivering a high quality highway on time and on budget.
Why was a public-private partnership used on this project?
Through a public-private partnership (P3), the government and taxpayers were protected from potential cost overruns, since the private sector was responsible for any construction risks. This shielded taxpayers from inflationary costs such as rising prices for materials and labour.
The P3 also allowed the government to build the road two years faster than would have been possible through conventional methods.
The Anthony Henday Drive Southeast Leg Ring Road project received an Award of Merit for Project Financing in 2005 from the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP). The CCPPP cited a number of benefits of the P3 approach, including a 30-year extended warranty compared with the typical two-year warranty for conventional construction.
For more information on CCPPP: www.pppcouncil.ca
If it's a P3, who owns the road?
The Province owns the Anthony Henday Drive Southeast Leg Ring Road and it is part of the provincial highway network. AREL does not have an ownership or lease interest in the road.
What is your role in terms of maintenance?
Under the project agreement, AREL is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the southeast, west and southwest legs of the Anthony Henday Drive Ring Road, including portions of Highways 2 and 16. AREL is working to the same specifications as when the Province maintained the highways. The contractor on this project, Transportation Systems Management Inc. (TSM), has been a maintenance contractor with the Province since 1996.
How is the public to be assured that the road will be maintained effectively now that it is open to traffic?
Private contractors work to the same specifications as when the Province maintained the highways. As a public-private partnership, we have a performance-based agreement, which means that our payments are tied to meeting pre-determined standards. There are penalties for not meeting the standards that are required under the contract. In addition, the Province will oversee our work throughout the 30 years. Edmonton motorists can be very confident that the road is safe and that it will be maintained to high standards throughout the 30 years.
Who do I contact if I have an inquiry about the ring road?
If you have any questions about the maintenance of the Anthony Henday Drive Ring Road from Highway 14 on the east side of Edmonton to Highway 16 (Yellowhead) on the west side of Edmonton, please contact TSM.
Tel: 780-466-5084
Email: info@tsmi.ca
Who was Anthony Henday?
Anthony Henday was one of the first Europeans to cross the Canadian Prairies in 1754-55. Working for the Hudson's Bay Company, his expeditions shed light on the First Nations' economy and culture and changed the way that Europeans viewed the west.
See: www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=35522
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