Gary Benner Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Canada Area

Downtown Toronto to Richmond Hill

Toronto, Ontario

I have returned to my consulting practice advising construction clients at the executive level. Areas of expertise are set out in the previous job descriptions.

Underground Consulting Inc. has been providing consulting services to municipalities, developers, lawyers, and contractors since 1988.We have extensive experience in the design and construction of infrastructure projects including:- sewers and watermains- roads- earthworks and open cut- site servicing- highway crossings- shafts- tunnels- construction claims- expert reportsWe undertake feasibility studies, routing analysis, budget cost estimates, alternative construction methods, geotechnical assessment, contract document and specification preparation, design/build, project management and contractor pre-qualification.We are experts in tunnelling utilizing tunnel boring machines, rock drill and blast, non-explosive rock removal, steel liner plate, sheet piling, compressed air, dewatering, and pipe jacking methods.We have been working with trenchless technology including jack and bore, microtunnelling, horizontal directional drilling (hdd), and pilot tube boring for over 20 years.We are active in alternative dispute resolution as both a mediator and arbitrator. We strongly recommend mediation and arbitration over litigation.When litigation is the only alternative to resolving a dispute, we work with lawyers and their clients utilizing our litigation experience and industry knowledge to bring the matter to trial as economically as possible. We have appeared as an expert witness in court twice. The presiding judge agreed with our testimony and found in favour of our client on both occasions.Available to serve on a Dispute Review Panel or Dispute Review Board.

Pickering, Ontario

Retained under contract to successfully oversee a 2.5 km. fast track $ 30 M sanitary trunk sewer project by microtunnelling. Identified, quantified and presented claims for changed ground conditions and other issues in the amount of $ 11.4 M. These were accepted by the developer owners prior to Substantial Performance of the project.

Responsible for overseeing construction operations and contract administration and on high risk tunnel projects totalling $ 165 Million.Projects included the award-winning Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Pedestrian Tunnel, Metrolinx Crosstown Subway and Hydro One Networks Mid-Town Tunnel.Supervised and mentored Project Managers on various projects.Recruited professional staff for a growing organizationNegotiated, prepared and administrated Joint Venture Agreements on partnered projects.Determined, stategized, prepared and negotiated resolution of construction claims in excess of $ 20 Million.Oversaw the preparation of Health and Safety Program and monitor effectiveness.Managed bonding and insurance requirementsResponsible for all corporate marketing activities including website development, industry liaison and media relations.Managed multiple litigation files including providing instructions to legal counsel.Prepared pre-qualification submissions and advised on bid opportunities.

Responsible for the overall operation of this tunnel construction company including preparing tenders and supervising construction for tunnelling works including shafts, compressed air, dewatering, sheet piling, pipe jacking, rock blasting, tunnel boring machine, rib and lagging, liner plate, and hand mining.Dealt with the owner and their consultants and negotiated extra work and claims.

Initially in Street Operations responsible for traffic signs, road repaving program, road maintenance, streetscape.Moved to the Design and Construction Division in 1978 carrying out feasibility studies and a wide variet of projects including park development, local improvements, tunnels, watercourses, open cut sewers, grade separations and railway crossings.