Public Notice

Lower berth access improvement - Public comments invited

August 22, 2025 – The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada must determine whether the proposed Lower berth access improvement, located at 11060 Elevator Road, Surrey is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority will serve as the lead authority for this project review and will be the primary point of contact receiving comments, coordinating their distribution and ensuring input from the other federal agencies. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website. In addition, your contact information may be shared with third parties, e.g., the tenant, other relevant agencies, to help respond to your questions and inform possible mitigations.

 

Written comments must be submitted by September 21, 2025 to:

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Project and Environmental Review
100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3T4
per@portvancouver.com

The proposed project

DP World Fraser Surrey Inc. proposes to improve vessel access and egress from its lower berths by removing a compromised section (approximately 250 m) of lower section of the Wall Trifurcation (the Wall), also known as Phase 1 Wall Trifurcation, installed in 1967. The Wall was originally built to protect the lower berth and induce local scouring in the main river channel. Today, the Wall limits the utility of the lower berths and increases safety and navigation risks due to modern  ship sizes and additional vessel maneuvers that are required to access and egress the lower berths.

The partial removal of the Wall would:

• Eliminate physical obstructions and reduce navigational risks
• Improve access and maneuverability for larger vessels calling at the lower berths at the terminal
• Restore the area for more efficient berthing operations

The Project would include:

• Repairs and reinforcement to maintain the structural integrity of the existing upstream in-river wall section that will be left in place
• Removal of timber pile caps/headstocks and navigational lights from the section of the wall that is to be demolished
• Removal and disposal of approximately 1400 creosote timber piles and 175 pairs of steel sheet piles
• Removal of approximately 5,000 m³ of rock apron
• Dredging of approximately 40,000 m³ of accumulated sediments to a maximum depth of 12.5 m (chart datum) over an area of 11,700 m²
• Installation of a new pile to stabilize the remaining training wall
• Reinstallation of navigational lights at the end of the remaining structure

 

The Project's site is situated on the south shore of the Fraser River, within the Annieville Channel. The area immediately surrounding the Site is designated for port and industrial use, with the nearest residential receptor approximately 650 metres (m) east of the site on River Road.

Works will be planned to avoid impacting vessel traffic calling the lower berths at Fraser Surrey or transiting the river within the established marine navigation channel.

Machinery is expected to include a marine derrick and barges complete with pile extraction and clamshell dredge bucket, and clamshell or hydraulic dredge.

Dredged material would be transported for disposal at the Point Grey disposal at sea (DAS) site, under a valid DAS permit from Environment and Climate Change Canada provided there are no alternative options for disposal.

Tidal-dependent construction would be performed outside of regular construction hours. Other construction activities would occur during standard construction hours, Monday to Saturday, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.  The project would be completed in approximately 3 to 4 weeks within the fisheries least-risk window for the project area (June 16 to February 28).