Watching the Construction

The next few weeks will see the Fairview Container project off the local tour list as the observation area has been closed so they can clear some brush. It’s become rather a popular Rupert activity for locals and visitors alike who drive up Scott road hang that left and climb the hill to the area overlooking the construction of the container port.

With construction set to begin on the Canada Border Services building on site, the Port decided to clear the brush while they did their site preparation work at the Container Port.

The Port Corporation is supposed to be providing a webcam image from the Port's website for those that need their fix of daily observations, but a check today didn’t see a visible link to the webcam in place yet.

The plan is apparently to make the webcam plan a temporary thing until the viewpoint is open again. But judging by the interest in the Northwest about the project, it might make for a good PR move to keep it there full time.

The Daily News had a story on the plans in the Friday edition.

PUBLIC VIEWING AREA AT PORT OFF LIMITS FOR NOW
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, September 1, 2006
Pages One and Seven

The viewing area overlooking the construction at Fairview Container Terminal is being closed for two weeks in order to clear out the brush.

It will be closed starting today up until Sept. 15 for workers to safely slash and remove overgrown brush from the surrounding area.

“We know that the viewing area is being used extensively and we apologize for the inconvenience, said David Fisher, the port’s manager of operations and safety.

“However, the vegetation has grown to the point where it’s affecting the view of the construction site. Since we need to brush and clear the berm area below for the construction of the Canada Border Services Agency (administration) building, we felt the best solution is to do both at the same time.”

The temporary closure of the viewing are is necessary to accommodate the workers, equipment and trucks while protecting public safety, explains Fisher, adding “if all goes well, we expect to have the work completed and the viewing area re-opened by September 15.”

Barry Bartlett, manager of corporate communications and public affairs at the port, said the viewing point has been well used by people looking at the construction.

“We are finding vehicles coming down from Terrace to have a look,” he said. “But one of the characteristics of living in the area is the vegetation grows very quickly. You really needed a ladder to see what is going on.”

However, people will still be able to view the construction on the internet from the comfort of their homes during the two week closure.

“We try not to present a problem without a solution,” he said.

The Port has installed a webcam, accessible from the port’s http://www.rupertport.com/ website, providing viewers with an image of construction work that is refreshed every three minutes.

While interest in the viewing point has been strong, the port has received no complaints or concerns to date via the 24-hour phone number they set up in May.

“Our hotline is just chillin,” said Bartlett.

“We don’t want to create a lightening rod but we think it has a lot to do with the steps we’ve taken.”

For example, the 90 piles that are being installed to hold up the wharf are being driven into the ground using vibration instead of hammer pile driving.

Each of the piles is 120 feet long and three feet in diameter. By mid-August the port had installed about 45 piles.

The piles are being vibrated down to the bedrock and then drilled, like a screw, eight-feet into the bedrock. Then each pile is being filled with cement.

Other areas of construction that are underway include the demolition of the CN railway line, which is mostly complete.

The construction crews are also well on their way to completing the installation of armour rock, which are huge boulders that will pushy up against the edge of the wharf, under water to reinforce the structure.