Portside Blundell Road Improvements Project

Public engagement

Thank you to everyone who provided valuable feedback during phase two public engagement.

Read the engagement summary report

 

To learn more about engagement visit: portvancouver.com/ portsideblundellengagement

Contact us

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 604.665.9004

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is proposing to upgrade roadways in the Fraser Richmond industrial lands. This location and its connections to major transportation routes and facilities make it an active industrial area for warehouse and transload businesses that pack and unpack shipping containers moving to and from the Port of Vancouver. This corridor has some of the most concentrated activity in the Greater Vancouver area for moving goods from marine terminals to rail lines and trucks, and then off to other destinations.

Traffic flow in the area is impacted by a busy rail crossing. Vehicles back up when a train is passing over the crossing, leading to unnecessary idling and preventing access to businesses along Portside Road and Blundell Road. As trade grows, and a greater volume of containers move through the area, the delays are expected to worsen.

We aim to improve the efficiency, capacity, and safety of the transportation network by:

  • Building a new overpass over the CN rail line and connecting Blundell Road and Portside Road
  • Widening Blundell Road from two lanes to four lanes, between the No. 8 Road intersection and just west of York Road
  • Building a new bridge and extension of Portside Road over the No. 7 Road canal
  • Developing a new multi-use pathway along the north side of Blundell Road and south side of Portside Road

We are continuing to work with Indigenous groups, municipalities, and other stakeholders to undertake technical studies and engagement, advance project design, and plan for construction.

Watch the project video

 

Portside overpass and Blundell Road widening rendering

Portside Road extension and bridge rendering

PBRIP rendering

Project map

Project benefits

The port authority has a long and successful track record of delivering high-quality projects based on best practices in sustainability, environmental protection, and engagement. Benefits of this project include:

Reduced congestion
to help improve container movements to and from warehouse and transload facilities
Improved emergency response
for police, fire, and ambulance to get to incidents faster and more reliably
Reduced emissions and energy consumption by eliminating vehicle wait times at train crossings Improved safety
by reducing risk of collisions between trains and people walking, cycling, and driving
Improved connections for walking and cycling
by including new multi-use paths into the project design
Supports future development
by providing access to undeveloped lands
Accommodate trade growth
by increasing capacity to move Canadian products to foreign markets, and foreign products to Canadian consumers safely and more efficiently
 

Project timeline

  • 2019 – Project receives funding from the Government of Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund for design and construction
  • 2019-2021 – Phase one engagement
  • November 2021 – Project and environmental review permit received for Portside extension and bridge
  • 2021-2022 – Technical analysis and design development
  • June 2022 – Phase two engagement
  • October 2022 – Submit application for project and environmental review permit for Portside overpass
  • Fall 2023: Anticipated PER decision
  • Late 2023: Phase three engagement
  • 2024 – Anticipated construction start
  • 2026 – Anticipated project completion

Timelines are subject to change.

We acknowledge that while port-related developments provide local, regional, and national benefits, they also have the potential to affect those who live, work, or play in and around port lands and waters.

Our approach to public engagement is based on two-way communication and open dialogue, working together to ensure the community, the environment, and the economy are all considered during project planning.

Phase two engagement – complete

From June 20 to July 25, 2022, we asked those with an interest in the project to share their ideas as part of phase two engagement.

In this phase, we asked for your input on: the Portside overpass, Blundell Road widening, Portside Road extension and bridge, and the multi-use pathway connecting Blundell Road to Portside Road, as well as for your ideas and interests about traffic management during construction. We will use what we hear, along with other project considerations, to finalize the project designs and to inform a construction staging and traffic management plan.

To learn more about the project, please visit our project engagement site.

June 28, 2022 online information session

On June 28, 2022, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, we hosted an online information session to share information about the project, answer your questions and gather your feedback.

Phase one engagement

From July 8 to 22, 2020, the port authority invited stakeholders to review the proposed project and share feedback. To learn more about this phase one engagement, please:

Project and Environmental Review (PER)

The port authority’s federal mandate is to enable trade through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment and considering local communities. We ensure port projects meet these requirements through our PER process.

The proposed Portside Blundell Road Improvements Project is currently under review (PER No. 20-055).

A 30-day public comment period was held from April 27 to May 26, 2023 led by the project and environmental review team. Details about how to provide feedback are available on the Portside Blundell Road Improvement Project permit applications page.

For questions about the port authority’s PER process, please contact the port authority at [email protected] or 604.665.9047.

Funding partners

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

The project is part of the Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030.