Projects

Fairview Terminal

BEL Contracting, in a Joint Venture with Fraser River Pile and Dredge, successfully completed a multi-million dollar expansion of a 7-year-old terminal facility aimed at increasing its container handling capacity. This expansion is a significant contribution to the Canadian Pacific Gateway’s integral role in North American Trans-Pacific trade. With an impressive project duration of 28 months, the expansion extended both the northern and southern areas of the facility, lengthening the wharf to 800 meters (previously 500 meters) and significantly boosting its annual throughput capacity from 850,000 to 1.3 million containers per year. BEL’s role demonstrated expertise in managing and executing large-scale infrastructure projects, successfully achieving the objectives while adhering to tight schedules and operational complexities.

Key Project Information

  • Project Type:
    Heavy Civil
  • Budget:
    $180M
  • Timeline:
    July 2017 (Completed)
  • Client:
    DP World
  • Location:
    Prince Rupert, BC

Scope of Work

BEL Contracting played a pivotal role in various aspects of the project, managing all landside scope including the expansion of the container stacking yard and new container storage yard.

  • Land Reclamation and Construction: BEL was responsible for the reclamation of 3 hectares of land at the north end of the terminal and expanding the container stacking yard. They executed massive excavation tasks and transformed the material into suitable fill for the new container yard.
  • Infrastructure and Utilities: The team extended its skills to construct essential utilities, including electrical setups, to enhance the terminal’s operational efficiency. This also ensures the terminal is ready for future technological upgrades, offering long-term value.
  • Traffic Management: The project also saw the addition of 70,000 m2 of road structure and paving to handle port traffic efficiently, ensuring smooth logistical flow within the facility. This is a testament to BEL’s comprehensive capacity for civil construction.
  • Specialized Construction: Among the project’s challenges was the construction of a unique flow collector chamber. This chamber required intricate planning to connect existing culverts to a newly installed box culvert. The operation had to be meticulously coordinated with tidal patterns and fluctuating weather conditions, showcasing BEL’s exceptional ability to handle complex engineering requirements.
  • Environmental and Safety Measures: Given the sensitive location near Prince Rupert Bay, BEL adhered to strict environmental regulations and safety protocols. Special care was taken during blasting activities conducted near existing critical infrastructure to ensure both environmental and operational safety.
  • Material Movement and Construction Methods: The project utilized various construction methods, including hydraulic drills for rock borrowing and cast-in-place techniques for manholes and foundation elements due to specific port loading requirements. Additionally, conveyors were used to move processed rock across the terminal’s main road and CN Rail mainline.
  • Operational Continuity: One of the remarkable aspects of this project was that it was accomplished without disrupting the existing port facility’s operations. The project’s tight schedule also required work to continue despite extreme weather conditions typical of the North Pacific Coast.

Through expert planning and execution, BEL Contracting proved its expertise in handling large-scale, environmentally sensitive, and operationally complex projects. Their role in the Fairview Phase II North project not only extended the terminal’s capacity but also set a new benchmark for construction projects in the maritime industry.