Portside Blundell Road Improvements Project

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

 

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.

Engagement and consultation Project documents

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.