VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Construction on the Lynn Creek Rail Bridge and Brooksbank Avenue Underpass project in North Vancouver, B.C. got underway yesterday with the help of more than $21 million in federal funds. The project is designed to improve access to ports and railways, and to capitalize on job creation opportunities.
"Today's project milestone is an example of the success of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative," said Stockwell Day, Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. "In the end, everybody benefits from investments in projects like this one: businesses save time and money, it creates jobs in the community and it strengthens Canada's trading position, especially with the Asian markets."
This project, delivered through Port Metro Vancouver, involves building a new bridge to carry eight new rail lines to widen the existing port rail corridor, and expanding the Brooksbank Avenue underpass. These expansions are designed to improve railway access to and from Port Metro Vancouver's Neptune and Lynnterm West terminals in North Vancouver.
The project contributes to the expansion of the rail lines through the North Shore Trade Area, a growing centre for trade and economic activity in British Columbia. In 2008, the area handled 23.7 million tonnes of commodity, with a value of approximately $10.7 billion. By 2020, the North Shore terminals are forecast to generate a total of 31,000 jobs in Canada, earning over $1.4 billion in wages annually, and $2.0 billion in gross domestic product.
"Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's gateway to the world's most dynamic economies and serves as a major economic generator for the nation," said Robin Silvester, president and CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. "The North Shore Trade Area provides a critical connection to overseas markets for export products, and the Lynn Creek Rail Bridge and Brooksbank Avenue Underpass project is a great example of infrastructure improvement that will directly support economic growth. The project will both provide increased capacity and deliver further improvement in supply chain efficiency and reliability."
Minister Day also announced funding of $254,977 for two projects led by the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table. The organization works with groups that come from different sectors to ensure skilled employees needed for the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific Gateway are available.
"The two projects will make the Asia-Pacific Gateway even more efficient and productive," said Minister Day. "The projects will help municipal, regional and Gateway planners further develop their skills to work in a more integrated way. Continuing to strengthen the skills of our workers will contribute to the growing success of the gateway."
"As our economy recovers and trade levels rebound, it is imperative that we have a skilled workforce ready to meet the needs of employers," said Oksana Exell, executive director of the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table. "The Skills Table continues to learn where there are gaps in Gateway skills and has been working with employers to close these to ensure the highest level of competency and expertise for Gateway employees such as crane operators."
The first project, Building Capacity for Integrated and Strategic Planning Functions in the Asia-Pacific Gateway, will receive $174,861 to collaboratively assess potential skills gaps among planning professionals within the Gateway. The project is designed to help facilitate more robust and integrated planning, contributing to enhanced productivity and efficiency of the Gateway.
The second project, Transferable Skills and Certification Feasibility for Crane Operators in the Asia-Pacific Gateway, will receive $80,116 to improve understanding of the skills and certification needs of the waterfront crane operations sector of the Gateway.