Fraser River Tunnel
The Fraser River Tunnel is one of the largest and most technically complex transportation infrastructure projects in British Columbia, replacing the existing George Massey Tunnel with a new eight-lane immersed tube tunnel beneath the Fraser River. The success of the project depends on understanding and managing the unique hydraulic, sediment transport, river morphology, and environmental challenges associated with construction and long-term operation within one of Canada’s largest and most dynamic river systems.
BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit
Streams & Rivers
Richmond, British Columbia
NHC was retained by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Transit to provide hydrotechnical and river hydraulics advisory services throughout the planning, environmental assessment, design, procurement, and construction phases of the project. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, NHC collaborates closely with geotechnical, structural, environmental, heritage, and navigation specialists to ensure hydrotechnical considerations are fully integrated into project development and risk management.
Building on extensive experience on the Fraser River, including previous George Massey Tunnel replacement studies and related river engineering projects, NHC has provided critical technical leadership in evaluating river conditions and identifying risks associated with tunnel construction and long-term performance. A key component of the work has been the collection and interpretation of extensive field data to improve understanding of hydraulic conditions, sediment transport processes, scour potential, and riverbed morphology in the project area.
NHC has supported development of the Reference Concept Design through hydrotechnical assessments, scour protection design, and river engineering analyses. The team has also undertaken investigations and reporting to support the Environmental Assessment process, including evaluations of river hydraulics, sediment transport, river morphology, and potential environmental effects related to construction and operation of the tunnel.
As the project advanced, NHC developed hydrotechnical requirements and specifications for inclusion in the Design-Build procurement documents and has continued to provide technical review and advisory services for the Design-Builder’s hydraulic analyses, sediment management assessments, and river engineering designs.
A central focus of NHC’s involvement has been the identification and mitigation of key project risks. These include uncertainties in riverbed conditions and hydraulic performance, potential impacts to existing infrastructure, long-term effects of climate change and sea level rise, dredging-related sediment management considerations, and protection of aquatic habitats during construction and operation.
Provided specialized hydrotechnical expertise that supports informed design and construction decisions, reduces project risk, addresses river and sediment management challenges, and helps ensure the long-term resilience and performance of a major Fraser River transportation crossing.
