Port Viewpoint to be closed during business hours

Prince Rupert residents looking to keep track of the progress on the Fairview Container site will have but a brief window of opportunity daily to view.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority is planning to restrict the hours of use for the upper viewing lot, due to the number of trucks entering the site hauling gravel for the massive paving job ahead.

The normal business hours will see the lot closed off to traffic, but will open from 5:30 to 7:00 pm for those wishing to take a look see at Prince Rupert’s most anticipated construction project in years.


Public’s port access restricted
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Page one

The viewing area at the Fairview Container Terminal site will be closed to the public during regular working hours seven days a week until the end of June to allow construction crews to complete the paving portion of the construction project.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority's Director of Operations and Security, Gary Paulson, explained that, during the next six weeks, a steady stream of trucks will be moving gravel to the asphalt plant situated behind the viewing area and hauling hot asphalt down to the terminal to pave nearly 50 acres of surface.

"The community has been very understanding of the sporadic closures of the viewing area that we communicated in January and we greatly appreciate the public's continued support," said Paulson. "The closure is necessary to protect the public's safety as well as to ensure construction work continues to progress smoothly and on schedule."

Signs have been placed at the entrance of Scott Road at Park Avenue to advise the public of the viewing area closure.

While the viewing area will be closed during regular working hours until 5 p.m., interested people will have a window of opportunity to track the construction project's progress from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

The Port of Prince Rupert expects to complete terminal construction and turn over its operations to Maher Terminals this summer, once the new cranes have arrived.

Earlier this week, CN Rail announced it has signed a contract with COSCO Container Lines Americas, Inc., under which COSCO will become the first steamship company to route Asian freight through the new Port of Prince Rupert container terminal and CN's North American rail network.

COSCO Container Lines Americas, Inc., is part of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company, headquartered in Beijing, China. Founded in 1961 as the pioneer of international shipping carriers in China, COSCO has grown into a US$17 billion corporation by clearly focusing on the goal of enabling commerce around the globe.

The announcement of the first carrier allows companies looking to use containers moving back through Fairview Terminal to export to Asian markets to begin planning their export businesses.

COSCO will commence service via the Port of Prince Rupert and CN rail lines for container shipments between Asia and the North American markets starting in the fourth quarter of 2007.

COSCO already ships through Maher Terminal's East Coast operations in the port of New Jersey.