photoP16_webThe West Vancouver Freight Access “Trench Project”, which creates a new rail entrance into the port, will begin its next phase of construction this summer. Port crews have recently received the green light from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to proceed with the work.

In addition to the completion of the remaining pile driving, the second phase of the project, or Design Project 2A, will construct the cast-in-place concrete superstructure that will eventually deliver the new access route into the port, significantly improving the port’s rail capacity and relieving a bottleneck on the mainline.

The project was advertised the week of April 9, with plans to open bidding on Thursday, June 13. The commission will have the opportunity to award the project during the June 25 Commission Meeting.

While this phase of the project will complete the physical “Trench”, a final phase scheduled to begin in 2014 will complete the remaining connection elements that will attach the new entrance to the port’s internal system, and deliver the complete project by April 2015.