The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) was holding onto a 70 ha parcel of property for the future construction of an interchange at the junction of Highways 11 and 17, part of the Trans-Canada Highway system. Red Rock Indian Band, located adjacent to the future interchange, had reached development capacity. The only opportunity for expansion was to obtain MTO lands that were being protected. The First Nation had made an urgent request to Ontario regarding expanding their land base. MTO required a quick and comprehensive method to identify ultimate property requirements without updating the preliminary design and environmental assessment. MTO invited the First Nation to participate in a modified Value Engineering study so they could share their ideas and values. The purpose of the study was to support the selection of the best value interchange configuration that would meet the needs of the highway users and First Nation. The recommended innovative design avoided relocating the highway patrol yard. Constructability was enhanced by shifting the interchange away from the existing intersection, simplifying traffic management and improving worker safety. The recommended solution offers a $14.3 million savings over the original design. This VE process demonstrated the benefits of including external stakeholders, such as First Nations. Most importantly, the First Nation gained an appreciation that a fair and transparent evaluation was used to select the preferred design while balancing transportation and First Nation values.
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