Aecon awarded $196 million contract for Union Station Platform Renewal

TORONTO , Oct. 30 /CNW/ - Aecon Group Inc. (TSX: ARE) announced today that its Buildings Division has been awarded a contract by GO Transit, a division of Metrolinx for the $196 million refurbishment of the Union Station train shed.

Under the contract, Aecon will refurbish Union Station's 360,000 square foot train shed covering 13 tracks and 23 platforms; replacing the existing roof with new a new steel roof and a glass atrium that reaches 50 feet above the platform level. Fifty new stair access points and nine new passenger elevators will be built to help move passengers from the existing concourse level to the newly-refurbished platforms.

The project also involves the removal and repair of approximately 4,200 metres of existing track beds, as well as electrical and mechanical work including communication systems, signals, a new roof drainage system, and a snow melting system.

The existing station is subject to a Heritage Easement administered by Parks Canada and will therefore undergo preservation and restoration to reinstate it to its original condition wherever possible. The refurbishment will be completed in eleven stages with each stage involving the closure of two tracks and two platforms. The project is scheduled for completion in November of 2014.

"Aecon's unique ability to bring expertise to all aspects of the construction process allows us to deliver seamless services for such multi-faceted projects," said Frank Ross , President, Aecon Buildings. "We look forward to working with Metrolinx on this landmark project."

Aecon Group Inc. is Canada's largest, publicly traded construction and infrastructure development company. Aecon and its subsidiaries provide services to private and public sector clients throughout Canada and on a selected basis internationally. Aecon is pleased to be recognized as one of the 10 Best Employers in Canada as published by Report on Business Magazine.

The information in this news release includes certain forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties which are generally described in Section 3.2 "Risk Factors" in Aecon's Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2009 available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Aecon believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations f any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct.

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For further information: Mitch Patten, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Aecon Group Inc., [phone], [email protected], www.aecon.com