PRINCE RUPERT, BC, March 8, 2013 /CNW/ - A groundbreaking at the Port of
Prince Rupert today marked the start of construction of the port's
$90-million Road, Rail and Utility Corridor project, which will support
billions in new terminal developments and boost Canada's trade capacity
and exports to fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets.
The Road, Rail and Utility Corridor will be a catalyst for significant
terminal developments being advanced through private sector investment
on the Ridley Island Industrial Site at the Port of Prince Rupert. The
project includes construction of five parallel rail tracks, a two-lane
roadway, and a port-owned power distribution system along an
eight-kilometre corridor. This will provide shared-use infrastructure
for proposed potash, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other terminals on
the island. The capital costs of the terminal developments are
currently estimated in the billions of dollars. The first phase of the
project will be completed in December 2014.
"The Government of Canada is focused on creating jobs, growth and
long-term prosperity and this project is one of many under our
Asia-Pacific Gateway initiative that delivers on this goal," said Ms.
Wai Young, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South and Co-Chair of the
Canada-China Legislative Association, on behalf of the Honourable Ed
Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific
Gateway. Ms. Wai Young participated in the official construction
launch, in which an excavator roared into action while representatives
of the construction team lifted shovelfuls of sod. "The development
potential of Ridley Island is good news not only for the community of
Prince Rupert but for all Canadians as we continue to open new markets
to increase our exports to fast-growing Asian markets."
"This project will connect Canada's proven capacity for resource
production to growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region and is the
largest in Prince Rupert since construction of the Fairview Container
Terminal," said Bud Smith, Chairman of the Board of the Prince Rupert
Port Authority. "We are integrating the new terminals into the
world-class service and security architecture at the Port of Prince
Rupert. Through our increasingly diversified port complex, the Canadian
resource sector will be linked to a world of opportunity."
The Port Authority's Gateway 20/20 Plan foresees reaching an annual
throughput capacity of 100m tonnes of cargo as proposed terminal
developments are completed.
The $90 million utility corridor is being funded jointly by the
Governments of Canada and British Columbia, who have each contributed
$15 million, and CN and the Port Authority, who have each committed $30
million.
"This project in Prince Rupert will give us more capacity to serve
booming markets in Asia," said British Columbia's Transportation and
Infrastructure Minister Mary Polak. "By working with our government and
private sector partners we can continue to lead the competitive race
for Asia Pacific trade as the preferred Gateway to North America. A key
part of the BC Jobs plan and the Pacific Gateways Strategy, the Port of
Prince Rupert's growth is creating jobs and opportunities for families
in the Northwest and helping our economy across the province."
"The growing awareness of Prince Rupert as a North American gateway to
Asia has created global interest in the port and the northwest region
for investment and commerce. CN's investment in the Road, Rail and
Utility Corridor will strategically add export capacity and help
strengthen the infrastructure to get Canadian goods to market," said CN
General Manager Doug Ryhorchuk.
According to the Port, among other projects proposed for Ridley Island,
an anticipated potash export terminal, being advanced by Saskatchewan
potash marketing and logistics company Canpotex, will have the capacity
to provide an annual throughput of 13 million tonnes per year.
The BG Group has also engaged the Prince Rupert Port Authority to
consider a 200-acre section of land on Ridley Island for construction
of an LNG terminal that could be used to load Western Canadian gas onto
ships bound for consumers in Japan, South Korea, and China.
"The Port of Prince Rupert continues to draw the attention of investors
seeking to gain capacity for the movement of cargo from all sectors of
Canada's resource economy," said Don Krusel, President and CEO of the
Prince Rupert Port Authority. "They are drawn by Prince Rupert's vision
for growth and our proven record as an innovative and integrated trade
gateway that moves goods safely, responsibly and sustainably."
Construction of the Road, Rail, and Utility Corridor will employ up to
90 workers during its two-year construction phase. The project's
contractor is Prince Rupert Constructors, a joint venture between Coast
Tsimshian Enterprises (a local First Nations firm), JJM Construction
Ltd., and Emil Anderson Construction Inc.
The Ridley Island industrial site is located some 8.5 kilometres from
downtown Prince Rupert, and is under the jurisdiction of the Prince
Rupert Port Authority.
Image with caption: "The Ridley Island Industrial Site (at right), at the Port of Prince Rupert, will be ringed by a road, rail and utility corridor that links proposed terminal developments to existing rail and port infrastructure. (CNW Group/Prince Rupert Port Authority)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130308_C3637_PHOTO_EN_24430.jpg
SOURCE: Prince Rupert Port Authority
