Rail traffic destined for Port Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, terminals will move more smoothly and quickly with the injection of C$21 million by Ottawa to build a new railway bridge and widen an underpass as part of Canada’s Asia Pacific Gateway initiative.
The federal government’s continuing investment in the transportation infrastructure on the port’s north shore was made July 14, 2010, by Stockwell Day, Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway who said the project will fund the construction of a new bridge with eight new rail lines and expansion of an underpass to improve access to the port’s North Shore terminals, including Neptune Terminals, a bulk terminal handling potash, coal and minerals and Lynnterm West terminals, a breakbulk terminal handling primarily steel and lumber products.
"Today's project milestone is an example of the success of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative," said Day. "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."
Robin Silvester, port president and CEO, said: “"Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's gateway to the world's most dynamic economies and serves as a major economic generator for the nation. The North Shore Trade Area provides a critical connection to overseas markets for export products. The project will both provide increased capacity and deliver further improvement in supply chain efficiency and reliability."
Day also used the official opening as an opportunity to announce C$254,977 in funding for the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table that works with groups in varying sectors of the logistics chain to ensure the corridor has the necessary skilled employees.
Oksana Exell, executive director of the Gateway Skill Table said: "As our economy recovers and trade levels rebound, it is imperative that we have a skilled workforce ready to meet the needs of employers. 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."
