As part of Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP), Kiewit Ledcor TMEP Partnership (KLTP) has received required project permit approvals, subject to permit conditions, from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (port authority) for development of Site 1 - 2115 Commissioner Street in Vancouver, BC (the “Commissioner Street Project”, or the “Project”). Permit details including a list of conditions can be found here. Site 2 will be used as a temporary parking area.

Project Overview

KLTP is the general contractor that has responsibility for the construction of TMEP in the Lower Mainland. The main purpose of the site is to provide a marine off-loading facility and laydown yard for TMEP construction. Other activities at this site will include parking and the transport of workers by bus or water taxi to or from Trans Mountain worksites in the Lower Mainland. Site preparation began on or after September 5, 2019 and the site has been operational since May 2020, mostly as a material receiving and marine barge load/offloading facility.

The scope of the 2115 Commissioner Street project includes:

  • Ground upgrades to support cranes and other heavy equipment including: removal of existing asphalt, temporary excavation of gravel to a depth of 300 mm to 900 mm, placement of geotextile grid or fabric replacement, placement, compaction and grading of gravel;
  • Construction of a temporary trestle dock located offshore at west end of site, comprising a 11 m x 44 m access trestle and 14 m x 44 m main trestle, including the installation 54 in-water piles ranging between 600 mm to 900 mm in diameter. Piles will consist of vertical and batter piles, to be located at the east end of site;
  • Placement of 55 m of precast concrete barricades and fencing to delineate an adjacent old wharf structure that is not proposed to be used;
  • Installation of 1.8 m high chain link fencing, with gates for vehicle and pedestrian access, to secure the site perimeter;
  • Installation of 10 temporary 470-watt LED area lights along site perimeter;
  • Installation of 13 prefabricated trailers;
  • Utilities connections for trailers (electrical power, communication & water service);
  • Delineation of approximately 80 parking stalls for Project on-site and off-site workers;
  • Removal of improvements (trestle and buildings) after conclusion of lease term;
  • Installation of 3 Flexi-Float docks, comprising two 24 m x 3 m flexi barges and & one 30 m x 1.3 m ramp/gangway;
  • Installation of 300T Crane (8 m x 20 m x 5 m with max boom height of 73 m) to load barges with material – to be located on trestle and/or land;

Other activities that may be noticed:

  • Odours and dust related to on-site works;
  • Intermittent, temporary traffic delays to move equipment in and out of the terminal;
  • Signage at access points and in locations where Project activities will take place near recreation areas; and,
  • Lighting directed within the work site and main access points.

General Timelines and Work Hours

As communicated in a notice issued in December 2020, construction of the dock was paused in March 2020 and was scheduled to resume on January 4, 2021 but work was delayed. KLTP resumed construction of the dock on or after February 9, 2021 which is anticipated to complete by March 31, 2021. Work includes the installation of 16 vertical piles and 2 batter piles which will be conducted within the port authority’s standard construction hours of Monday to Saturday between the hours of 7:00 am and 8:00 pm. As a result of public feedback, pile driving activity will not be initiated until after 7:30 am.

If any other work is required outside of these hours, KLTP will submit a Request for Amendment to the port authority and neighbours will be notified in advance if the request is approved. At the end of the Project, KLTP will remove all temporary structures, materials and debris from the site and perform a full site cleanup to restore the premises back to its state prior to occupancy by KLTP.

Potential Construction Impacts

Pile driving:

  • Anticipated to be complete by March 31, 2021 to support trestle dock construction;
  • Piles will be installed as far as possible via vibratory method and will be finished using a diesel impact hammer during daytime hours only; and,
  • Underwater noise and pressure will be monitored and mitigated with methods such as bubble curtains to limit noise travel underwater beyond the active construction area

Lighting:

  • Lights will be installed to improve safety and security on the site;
  • A detailed Site Lighting Plan has been developed by a qualified lighting professional;
  • Navigation lights will be incorporated into the trestle dock design in accordance with Canadian Coast Guard requirements;
  • Installation of 10 temporary 470-watt LED area lights along site perimeter;
  • LED fixtures will be installed at 9 m (30 ft.) and orientated to 90 degrees (down) and away from the surrounding community; and,
  • The LED fixture focuses the light to 180 degrees which diminishes the effects of backlighting; therefore, minimizing light pollution.

All construction activity will employ mitigations as per the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). It is KLTP’s goal to complete the construction activities associated with the setup of this site in a safe and efficient manner while respecting environmental and socioeconomic resources.

Figure 1: Sites 1 and 2 of 2115 Commissioner Street Temporary Infrastructure Site in Vancouver, BC.

Local Traffic Routes and Parking

KLTP has developed plans to ensure construction impacts on traffic are well managed with the least-possible impacts to commuters and other road-users. KLTP will implement traffic control plans for all key access points to safely manage traffic in busy areas and to alleviate effects on the surrounding neighbourhood.

For construction and site operations, to mitigate impacts of worker traffic on the neighbourhood, KLTP will:

  • Encourage workers to take the bus and/or carpool and water taxi to reduce traffic vehicle trips;
  • Stage work periods where practicable to not coincide with present AM and PM peak travel times;
  • Implement protocols for commuting staff, workers and contractors to consider the needs of residents in the area and avoid cutting through local neighbourhoods as they commute to and from the project site;
  • Provide a site access plan to workers prior to their commencing employment, which will include instruction not to travel neighbourhood streets such as Wall Street to access the site;
  • Highlight traffic management during site safety orientation for new workers coming on site;
  • Remind all other contractors to obey any time restrictions on deliveries and to use specified driving routes and access/egress points. This includes the use of McGill Street for site deliveries by truck, the use of Clark Drive for employee and shuttle bus access; and,
  • Water taxi service and some equipment and product deliveries will occur at the marine dock.

Effects on Overall Level of Traffic

Most of the traffic associated with site operations will be workers arriving early in the morning to be transported to their construction site by shuttle bus or water taxi for their day shift. Workers will return to the site by shuttle bus or water taxi for their commute home. For this purpose, approximately 130 light duty and other worker vehicles will access the site each day during the operations period. These vehicles will mainly arrive at the site between 6:00 am and 7:00 am and leave between 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The site will also be operational on Saturdays; approximately 40 vehicles per day are anticipated, arriving and leaving at similar times as during the work week.

Figure 2: Central Port Access for Employee Vehicles and Shuttle Bus Service


Commercial truck traffic to and from construction yards will have a moderate impact on public roadways; where it is estimated up to 10 trucks per day will access the site. Trucks will use the eastern port access.

Figure 3: East Port Access for Truck Deliveries


Regulatory Requirements

The port authority has jurisdiction over the entire site and has reviewed the Project Permit as per the port authority’s guidelines. A CEMP, Traffic Management Plans and other management plans are required by the port authority to ensure necessary measures are employed to minimize disruption to neighbours. Additional information about the Project and Environmental Review process is available here.

For questions regarding the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s approval of these works, please call 604.665.9004 or email [email protected].

Marine Waterway Use

Navigation and Navigation Safety Information is provided for marine waterway users here.

Please note:

  • A NAVWARN notice will be issued via Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Vessel Traffic Services (visit CCG Navigation Warnings here);
  • All marine traffic is advised to exercise caution when travelling through this area; Commercial traffic is requested to coordinate with the Contractor on VHF Channel 9 as necessary.