PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — The last spike has been driven into a $90-million road and rail corridor project in Prince Rupert, B.C., that politicians and business leaders say will boost Canada's trade capacity with Asia-Pacific markets.
The eight-kilometre corridor includes five parallel rail tracks, a two-lane road and a port-owned power distribution system, all designed to support future development at the northern coastal port.
The project is part of a long-term plan giving the port the capacity to ship goods such as potash and liquefied natural gas and other Canadian products to international markets.
It took two years to complete the corridor, with funds coming from the federal and provincial governments, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, CN, and potash exporter Canpotex.
B.C. Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone says the project is symbolic of B.C.'s leading role in developing new transportation corridors to the fast growing economies of the Asia Pacific.
CN senior vice-president Western Region Michael Cory says the project is the result of positive co-operation between governments and the private sector and will allow for future terminals on the larger the terminal.
