As part of the Expansion Project, Trans Mountain will construct an underground tunnel to connect Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal, avoiding impacts on residents and existing infrastructure. Trans Mountain’s contractor, Kiewit Ledcor TMEP Partnership (KLTP) will use a tunnel-boring machine to construct a 2.6-km tunnel through Burnaby Mountain.
Under a separate application, Trans Mountain received approval from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) to relocate the existing 24-inch delivery pipeline between the two terminals from Burnaby streets to the Burnaby Mountain Tunnel and increase the diameter to 30 inches. Trans Mountain will also apply to the CER to decommission the existing 24-inch delivery pipeline at a future date.
The new tunnel, at more than four metres in diameter, will contain three 30-inch delivery pipelines to load vessels at Westridge. Construction of the tunnel will involve use of earth-moving equipment, drills and other motorized equipment.
This work will be completed under a Burnaby Mountain Tunnel Environmental Protection Plan.
Work Hours
Trans Mountain plans tunnel preparation and work on the tunnel portals to be conducted Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. When required, maintenance work may be performed on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Once tunnel boring begins, construction will occur 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Tunnelling will be conducted in double shifts of 10 hours each, between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. Between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., cleaning and maintenance activities will be performed within the tunnel.
Managing Impacts
Noise
Trans Mountain has developed a Noise Management Plan in accordance with CER Condition 86. The plan includes mitigation measures according to federal and provincial guidelines and best practices. These measures include actions, such as enclosing noisy equipment and using baffles where and when feasible, to limit the transmission of noise beyond the construction site.
Existing sound levels have been established for the neighbourhoods surrounding the terminal sites. Construction sound levels will be monitored to verify selected controls are effective and if additional controls are needed.
Light
Light mitigation will be implemented where work is in proximity to public roadways and/or residential areas. An example of light mitigation includes directed lighting.
Waste Management
Waste rock will be disposed of at an appropriate facility according to applicable regulations.
Air and Dust
Vehicles and equipment must observe air emissions management plans which limit idling and the types of fuels and equipment that can be used on-site. Water or an approved soil stabilizer will be applied, if necessary, to soil piles to prevent wind erosion and applied to disturbed areas if traffic and wind conditions result in excessive dust. The frequency of dust abatement measures will be increased during periods of high wind.
