Construction firms anxious to hear of timeline for DP World Container Terminal expansion project

With the prospect of close to 800,000 hours of construction work and the jobs that will come with it for the construction industry on the horizon, members of Northern British Columbia's construction and trades industries are looking forward to hearing more of the timeline for the DP World Fairview Terminal Expansion project and the opportunities that it may have to offer.

An article in the Journal of Commerce highlights some of that anticipation, with Scott Bone the CEO of the Northern Regional Construction Association noting how his membership is awaiting more details from DP World as to the progress of the expansion and what jobs may be available to bid on.

The 450,000 TEU expansion was announced in June and DP World is currently in the process of obtaining permits for the work ahead, with a hoped for start to the project anticipated for the middle of 2019.

As DP World noted in June, the next expansion will be in two phases, with the first segment to be completed by 2020, with the remainder of the project to be in place by 2022.

When it is completed, it will have increased the DP world footprint on the waterfront adding capacity to a total of 1.8 million TEU's, currently the Fairview Terminal lists its capacity at 1.35 million TEU's

Mr. Bone notes for the Journal of Commerce, that his organization is eager to work with representatives from DP World to explore options on training opportunities and how to market the project to the trades across the country.

The head of the Northern Construction association also observes that the Fairview expansion will be moving forward during a period of time when there will be a number of high profile industrial projects in motion, something that could have an impact on access to trades workers depending on the timelines in play.

It is expected to take three years to complete the expansion, which will add 300 full time positions at the terminal once it is operation. The expansion will also provide for spin off jobs in transportation and logistics in the region when it opens for business.

The project will also see maintenance and administration buildings relocated from their current position on the Fairview site, as well as the development of a Port only transit corridor between Fairview Terminal and the Ridley Island Access Road to the south.

The roadway making for a much anticipated piece of infrastrcture that will serve to remove much of the truck traffic that currently passes through the city's downtown core.

The Port bypass road is part of a planned expansion for Fairview Terminal,
while longer term Port plans include a number of logistic parks for Ridley Island

The plans for the port specific bypass road was part of the focus for new Port CEO and President Shaun Stevenson's Report to the community back in June.

As part of the Port's Annual Public meeting, Mr. Stevenson outlined some of the other associated development plans that the Port has in mind, some of which explored the prospect of additional logistic parks to help serve the expanding terminal.

You can review more of the plans from DP World as part of our archive page here, while further notes on development themes at the Port of Prince Rupert can be explored here.

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