Vancouver USA’s rail engineering excellence
(Posted on 26/02/19)
The Port of Vancouver USA’s West Vancouver Freight Access project (WVFA) won a 2019 Engineering Excellence Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Oregon.
The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. It is primarily a bulk import and export facility with dedicated facilities for specific commodities, such as grain, soy beans, corn, mineral ores, concentrates, fertilizers, clays, bauxite and agricultural commodities.
Port Director of Engineering and Project Delivery Monty Edberg, who led a team of staff and consultants for more than 10 years to see WVFA to completion, presented the award to the port’s Board of Commissioners during a public meeting 12 February.
“The WVFA has been the recipient of several American awards as well as one international award, and we should all be proud of our involvement in the project,” said Edberg. “I can say that pretty much everyone on our staff has been involved in this project. And I think we need to recognize the commission’s role in this, too. Because of your steadfastness – your stick-to-itiveness with this project – and your vision, I’d like to present the Board of Commissioners with…our Grand Award for 2019.”
Omaha, Nebraska-based engineering firm HDR was the port’s prime consultant on WVFA and submitted the project for a 2019 Engineering Excellence Award.
WVFA was one of four projects in Southern Washington and Northern Oregon that received a Grand Award this year. The top award – Project of the Year – went to the City of Vancouver’s Waterfront Park.
The West Vancouver Freight Access project brings congestion relief and efficiency to Port of Vancouver USA and regional businesses as well as rail users and communities across the Western U.S. The project was a concerted, decade-long effort by the port to create jobs and generate economic benefit by investing in freight rail infrastructure. WVFA improves freight rail movement through the port and along the BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad mainlines connecting the Pacific Northwest to major rail hubs in Chicago and Houston, and from Canada to Mexico.
The $251 million project consisted of 21 sub-projects, including construction of a new port rail entrance, expansion of the port’s rail corridor and the addition of a loop track at the port’s Terminal 5. The overall project also increased the port’s railcar capacity from 50,000 to 400,000 cars annually.
WVFA was delivered in July 2018, ahead of schedule and $24 million under the original engineer’s estimate.
The annual ACEC Engineering Excellence competition recognizes engineering achievements that demonstrate the highest degree of merit and ingenuity.
Latest News
Dry bulk stable as Antwerp-Bruges grows in first half of 2024
(Posted on 22/07/24)The total throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 143.2 million tonnes in the first six months of this... Read more
PD Ports aiming to be the UK’s most sustainable port
(Posted on 22/07/24)PD Ports has a publicly stated aim to be the UK’s most sustainable port company, with a commitment... Read more
Cargo transhipment in North Sea Port remains stable
(Posted on 16/07/24)Over the first six months of this year, the companies in North Sea Port recorded a volume of 33.4 million... Read more
Rotterdam to support redevelopment of Curaçao industrial zone
(Posted on 12/07/24)Port of Rotterdam Authority will contribute to the redevelopment of the lands owned by the state-owned... Read more
ABP boosts marine capability through pilot launch upgrades
(Posted on 12/07/24)Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest and leading ports operator, has announced an... Read more
ABP Humber welcomes Laura Wood as new Head of Commercial
(Posted on 04/07/24)As Head of Commercial, Laura will head up the team responsible for Associated British Port’s wide... Read more
Cooperation on multiple port projects in Bangladesh
(Posted on 28/06/24)Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s leading facilitators of global trade, logistics, and industry, and... Read more
Sastry: Africa’s mining industry offers high margins and long-term contracts
(Posted on 20/06/24)Speaking at this year’s Drycon conference in Mumbai, Capt. Pappu Sastry, CEO of Adhira Shipping... Read more
Tunley Environmental announces ambitious transatlantic expansion plans
(Posted on 19/06/24)Sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental is announcing ambitious transatlantic expansion plans... Read more
Duluth earns favourable marks in Green Marine environmental rating
(Posted on 14/06/24)The Duluth Seaway Port Authority and its terminal operations on Rice’s Point ranked among the... Read more
