The Government of Canada announced its $153.7 million financial investments through its National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) to support three separate critical trade infrastructure projects that will boost the trade development at the port of Prince Rupert.
The Port of Prince Rupert plans to grow to over 50 million tonnes of trade yearly within the next decade. The port’s plans represent its aim on unlocking the future private sector investment in the new facilities and operations required to meet that growing demand.
The port along with CN received the $60.6 million for the Zanardi Bridge and Causeway project. The project will decline any operational conflicts and increase rail capacity so that the port will be able to accommodate future development in import and export trade. Key components of the project include the construction of a new double track bridge across the Zanardi Rapids, rehabilitation of the existing single track Zanardi Bridge, and expansion of the causeway between the Zanardi Bridge and Ridley Island.
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Also, the port received $49.85 million for its rail infrastructure needed to service the Ridley Island Export Logistics Platform project, which costs $100 million. This project focuses on expanding the existing Road, Rail and Utility Corridor to enable unit train access. According to the port’s statement, the project will create a platform to attract private-sector investment in export transloading and warehouse capacity at the port. The increased volumes will be handled by a logistics field.
In the meantime, the Metlakatla Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Metlakatla First Nation, was the recipient of $43.3 million toward the Metlakatla Import Logistics Park project.
This project costs $89 million and consists of a 25-hectare site development on South Kaien Island that will enable transload and warehouse operations to provide increased flexibility and value-added capabilities for import supply chains.
In May, Prince Rupert port authority announced plans to create up to 7 million TEU of additional capacity through the development of multiple new terminals.
Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority commented
These investments will enable the development of gateway infrastructure that will support ongoing growth in capacity and resiliency of the gateway.
