There have been several Canadian highway projects carried out in stages described by the terms finance, design, build, operate, and maintain. These projects are usually deemed public/private partnerships because one or more of the major components are performed by the private sector. In developing the Cobequid Pass Toll Highway in Nova Scotia this concept was followed to such an extent that the project was described as "The best example of how a public/private partnership should work". It is not the authors' intent to dwell on the technical and engineering details of the project but to illustrate how the concept of a public/private partnership resulted in the completion of Cobequid Pass and to outline the benefits and pitfalls in this method of construction and financing. In the Province of Nova Scotia (Province) it has been normal practice for the Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW), to be the contracting agency and authority for highway construction projects. As contracting authority, TPW and highway contractors with the exception of minor contract changes for End Result Specifications where the contractor is responsible for quality control. There have also been a small number of design-build projects for bridge replacements. (Author/publisher)
Abstract