Four Burrard Inlet’s North Shore Projects

Four Burrard Inlet’s North Shore Projects

Investment: $75 million

UPDATE:

February 2012 – Completion of Brooksbank Avenue underpass in North Vancouver.

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The North Shore Trade Area (NSTA) is a critical export gateway that handles over thirty-five (35) percent of all cargo volume through Port Metro Vancouver.

These projects enhance rail and port operations, as well as accommodating anticipated growth in rail and road traffic. It will also provide environmental benefits, including reduced congestion on the local road network and reduced noise pollution along Burrard Inlet local communities such as the City of North Vancouver as well as the Districts of North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

Partners include the Province of British Columbia, several local municipalities, Canadian Pacific Railway, Canadian National Railway, Port Metro Vancouver, Translink, and other private sector stakeholders such as terminal operators.

The four (4) NSTA projects include:

1. Brooksbank Avenue Underpass (City of North Vancouver / District of North Vancouver) – now complete

This project consists of modifying the underpass to accommodate several additional rail tracks necessary for port terminal expansion plans. The project enables increased rail capacity.

2. Neptune/Cargill Grade Separation (City of North Vancouver / District of North Vancouver)

This project eliminates the existing at-grade crossing in the vicinity of Low Level Road and 3rd Street East that provides access to the Neptune and Cargill terminals. This project will facilitate rail movements, reduce rail whistle noise, and improve road access for workers and emergency services.

3. Low Level Road Re-Alignment (City of North Vancouver)

This project realigns and elevates the existing Low Level Road to accommodate two new rail tracks that are essential to port terminal expansion. This 1.5 km project will address drainage and slope stability issues, reduce train-switching noise, and provide separation between road and rail corridors that will improve road safety and port security. This realignment will also facilitate construction of the North Shore Spirit Trail multi-use pathway.

4. Philip Avenue Grade Separation (District of North Vancouver)

This project provides an overpass across the Canadian National Railway rail line, replacing the existing Pemberton Avenue and Philip Avenue at-grade crossings. This will provide traffic relief to a projected 6,500 vehicles per day (in 2021) and reduce noise and pollution in the local community while enabling Canadian National Railway to operate longer trains. The road connection to industries south of the rail tracks will also be improved to enable expansions of terminal and industrial activities.

These investments bring numerous national and local benefits such as:

• Reducing congestion on the local road network;
• increasing employment on the North Shore and throughout the Lower Mainland;
• enhancing support for Canadian forestry, mining and agriculture sectors who export through North Shore terminals;
• reducing noise pollution, such as train whistles at road/rail crossings and rail shunting;
• expanding terminal facilities that will increase Provincial and Municipal tax revenues;
• improving access to terminal facilities for commercial traffic;
• enhancing access to emergency service providers (police, fire, ambulance);
• Increasing capacity for public projects such as the Spirit Trail multi-use pathway; and
• building more efficient rail operations and capacity to accommodate anticipated trade growth;

 

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