A $750 million export logistics project on Ridley Island was announced on Oct. 19 by the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA). The port says this will enable seismic growth in the sector once finished.
In partnership with the province, federal government, CN and freight-logistics company Ray-Mont Logisitics, the PRPA claims the massive investment will bring 200 jobs to Prince Rupert.
With construction beginning this month, the PRPA says the extensive project should be completed by late-summer 2026.
According to the PRPA鈥檚 announcement, 20 kilometres of railway track will be added to the island, greatly increasing rail traffic.
Expansion of the cargo capacity comes along with further development on the Fairview Container Terminal, Wolverine Terminals and Vopak Pacific Canada, all looking to take advantage of Prince Rupert鈥檚 close proximity to Asian markets.
READ MORE: Vopak and AltaGas combine to evaluate new bulk liquids terminal at Prince Rupert Port
The Ridley Island development will be a step in attracting more trade to Prince Rupert and Canada in general, according to PRPA president and CEO Shaun Stevenson.
鈥淭he development of this innovative project and its introduction of large-scale export logistics capabilities at the Port will fundamentally improve competitiveness for Canadian exporters, and marks the opening of a new chapter of Prince Rupert intermodal growth,鈥� he said.
Metlakatla First Nation, Lax Kw鈥檃laams Band, Gitxaa艂a Nation and IDL Projects, have been handed the main construction contract on Ridley Island鈥檚 development, according to the PRPA鈥檚 announcement.
Gitxaa艂a Nation Chief Councillor Linda Innes said the Nation is 鈥減roud鈥� to be working on the three-year-long project, hoping it will help the port鈥檚 ability to compete in the global shipping market.
鈥淭he addition of a dedicated export logistics platform should greatly increase the ability of Canadian exporters to compete globally, while adding yet another piece to the puzzle in PRPA鈥檚 vision of a truly world-class port,鈥� she said.
The final product of the export logistics project will boost B.C.鈥檚 ability to face future global supply chain issues, according to Rob Fleming, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
鈥淲ith global market dynamics continuing to create challenges for supply chains, forward-thinking projects like this one are helping to make BC鈥檚 transportation and logistics network more efficient and more resilient,鈥� he said.
Of the $750 million, $65 million is being provided by the federal Transportation Corridor Fund while $25 million is coming from the province鈥檚 Stronger B.C. program. The PRPA is committing $230 million to the building of infrastructure, though the remaining funding is unclear.
