Trans Mountain has Filed for a Project Permit with the VFPA 

Trans Mountain continues to seek all necessary permits from various levels of government and regulatory authorities. In June 2017, Trans Mountain filed for a project permit with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) for the Westridge Marine Terminal Upgrade and Expansion Project.

More information about the portions of the Westridge Marine Terminal Upgrade and Expansion Project within VFPA jurisdiction are available here.

The Westridge Marine Terminal Upgrade and Expansion Project – Consultation Summary Report and the Consideration Report from the public comment period are now available on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority website.

We Welcome Your Feedback on Our Project 

For the purposes of the VFPA Project Permit review for Westridge, we welcome your feedback by email to[email protected] or phone 1.866.514.6700 between June 13 and July 10, 2017 (20-business-day comment period). For questions or comments regarding the VFPA permitting process, please contact the port authority’s permit comments line at 604.665.9570 or email: [email protected].

Subject to Project Permit approval by the VFPA, in-water construction at Westridge is planned to begin in late summer 2017. All other construction activities outside VFPA jurisdiction at the terminal are scheduled to begin in September 2017. Operations maintenance activities to service existing infrastructure are ongoing. The new berths will begin loading tankers in late 2019, with all berths expected to be in-service in 2020.


Subject to Project Permit approval by the VFPA, construction of Berths 1 and 2 will take place first and are anticipated to be in-service in late 2019. Construction of Berth 3 will be completed after Berth 1 and 2 and is anticipated to be in-service by Q2 2020.

To support the dock structure, approximately 150 steel piles of different diameters could be required; the pile numbers are subject to change with final design. In addition to 500 m of roadway and pipe rack trestle; fender and mooring equipment, gangway towers and loading equipment for each berth will also be required.

Marine Berth 

Tanker traffic calling at Westridge is expected to increase from approximately five tankers per month to up to 34 Aframax-size tankers per month. In order to meet the volumes of the expansion, Westridge will be expanded from one berth to three berths, as well as one utility dock for tugs, boom boats and emergency response vessels.

Since the Trans Mountain Expansion Project was first announced in May 2012, extensive engagement, engineering, environmental and regulatory work has been undertaken. As we continue our planning for construction, some key milestones of interest and next steps in your community are highlighted in this notice.

The original Trans Mountain Pipeline began operating in 1953 and continues to operate safely today. The expansion of the existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline between Strathcona County (near Edmonton), Alberta and Burnaby, BC, will create a twinned pipeline system increasing the capacity up to 890,000 barrels per day (bpd) of which 630,000 bpd may be directed to Westridge Marine Terminal for export.

On November 29, 2016, the Government of Canada approved the Project, with 157 Conditions from the National Energy Board (NEB). On January 11, 2017, the BC Government issued an environmental certificate subject to 37 Conditions. These approvals allow Trans Mountain to construct and operate the expanded pipeline system subject to meeting the conditions.

Proposed Construction Schedule 

Detailed design refinements and construction planning continues. New information will be provided as our work progresses, should the project permit be approved by VFPA. Timelines are subject to change.

Construction activities at Westridge would include:

  • Site preparation activities to support ongoing operations including modifications and relocation of existing infrastructure; possible vegetation management inside terminal fence line
  • In-water construction including pile driving to accommodate new berths and trestles, as well as foreshore extension
  • Construction on the foreshore including rip-rap removal, installation of circular sheet pile cells, addition of structural fill, soil improvements, installation of foundations and construction of buildings, and installation of safety wall to separate terminal from existing train tracks; installation of equipment to support loading operations and emergency response enhancements
  • Construction on land including replacement of the existing substation, replacement of power line within the terminal, installation of new electrical cables, control systems and pipe
  • Tunnel portal construction and tunnel boring, installation of pipelines within the tunnel
  • Decommissioning and demolition of existing dock
  • Demobilization and site restoration

Navigation and Navigation Safety of the Terminal Construction Area 

The construction work area for Westridge will be defined by a floating construction safety boom; which will be marked with appropriate navigation lighting and controls. The work area will consist of the entire expanded dock area as well as a temporary working area needed for the terminal’s construction.

Tugs, observation vessels and storage barges will be visible. Barges will host cranes, pile driving equipment as well as material storage, offices and other worker amenities.

Large commercial vessels navigating the area will continue to follow the well established vessel movement practices under pilotage. Recreational, tourism, Aboriginal and other waterways users are encouraged to take extra caution when nearing the area and to familiarize themselves with safety protocols while on the water, as per the VFPA Port Information Guide and the Canada Marine Act “Collision Regulations.” More information is available at here.

Upgrading Westridge Marine Terminal


New Power Connection 

Trans Mountain has requested that BC Hydro provide a new transmission service connection to Westridge Marine Terminal. This will connect the terminal to existing 69 kv transmission lines in the area by installing 1-3 new poles and pole mounted equipment near the existing distribution service connection.

Construction Management Plans 

One of the activities currently underway is planning traffic access to Westridge Marine Terminal. With temporary construction activities planned over 2.5 years, Trans Mountain is developing management plans to minimize disruption to neighbours. These plans include

Traffic Management Plans, Construction Environmental Management Plans and plans to manage noise, lighting and emissions. More information about how Trans Mountain will manage construction impacts is available at transmountain.com/construction.

For example, Traffic Management measures planned to reduce impact of truck traffic to Westridge Marine Terminal during construction include:

  • Construction workers will be bused to site from a central yard off-site
  • Equipment required for marine work will be barged to site
  • An alternate access for a small number of specialized vehicles will be planned for the north end of Cliff Avenue
  • Only vehicles required to work will be permitted on-site
  • Truck traffic staged on Bayview Drive north of Inlet Drive controlled by flag people, trucks parked with engines off
  • Maintain access to Drummonds Walk for pedestrians and bicycles
  • Notification will be developed in consultation with local residents and the municipality and may include traffic control, changeable message boards and signage

Proposed Hours of Work

For activities permitted by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), construction work will occur within VFPA standard construction hours between 7 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, and between 9 am and 8 pm on Saturday. No work is planned on Sundays and statutory holidays. There is no pile driving planned outside of VFPA standard construction hours; however, if required, night shift work may include maintenance activities and hand labour work that will not include continuous use of heavy equipment. All work will be measured and evaluated so as not to exceed Health Canada target noise generation guidelines as per the Trans Mountain Noise Management Plan for Construction at Pump Stations and Terminals. For any changes to activities permitted by the port authority, Trans Mountain will be required to obtain additional authorization from the port authority.

Tunnel construction and other reduced noise land based activities outside of the port authority's jurisdiction may occur 24/7 or on Sundays.