Trench-cement-091313The port’s West Vancouver Freight Access Project 16 DP2A trench project made significant progress on Wednesday, September 11 when crews completed the concrete pour of the first section of the actual trench, and new rail entrance into the port.

 Grubbing and clearing is complete and Rotschy, Inc. of Vancouver will continue vibratory and impact driving of H-piles for the next several months. In conjunction with the piles driven in the first phase of the project, these piles will support and ensure sturdiness of the trench structure that will house rail lines entering the port.

When complete in October 2014, the project will allow full length unit trains of up to 120 cars to enter the port without impeding upon the existing North/South BNSF rail line that carries both freight and passenger trains almost continually throughout the day. Currently, each time a train enters the port, this line must remain clear while the train is “broken” into pieces that can be processed and staged throughout the terminal.