The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is undertaking a roadwork project to widen and realign Commissioner Street to the north between Nanaimo Street and Slocan Street in order to make room for Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) to add additional rail tracks. This project is being done to help support the capacity needed on the south shore to move goods, and improve port operations. The project received funding in 2019 from the Government of Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund.

The project includes:

• Removal of the old Columbia Containers grain elevator (completed in early 2020)
• Changes to Commissioner Street near Columbia Containers, includes shifting the road north, paving and adding a new lane
• Construction of a retaining wall
• Relocation of the impacted utilities including the Harbour East Interceptor
• Future installation of additional rail tracks next to current tracks, from four tracks to six tracks (led by CP)

These improvements will:

• Improve port truck movements and traffic flow
• Improve access to terminal facilities for commercial traffic
• Enable safe and efficient access to port lands for employees and service providers
• Provide land for rail track expansion, supporting trade growth and increased local and national jobs

Current activity

Road work to realign Commissioner Street began in March 2021.

Timeline

The below shows the project’s anticipated timeline.

• March 2021 – March 2022 – Road realignment period
• January 2022 – Early 2024 – Rail improvement works

Timelines are subject to change.

Project update

At the end of November 2021, the Commissioner Street Road and Rail Realignment project team received approval to conduct certain construction activities outside of regular working hours from December 2021 to January 2022. The original project permit and subsequent permit amendments can be found here.

Construction activities between December 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022 will continue during port authority standard work hours (Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.), and some works will take place outside of port authority standard work hours, as shown in the winter construction schedule.

Project documents Noise inquiries and complaints process

Funding partners

This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, the port authority, and CP.

Part of Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030.