It seems to be taking a long time but work is progressing on a truck staging facility that will alter the rural landscape of South Delta.
Surrounded by farms and located on provincially-owned land at the junction of Highway 17, Highway 17A and Deltaport Way, the amenity is being built for trucks destined for Deltaport at Roberts Bank.
It’s a joint initiative funded by Transport Canada, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
According to the port, the second phase of construction, which includes utilities and paving, started in late May. Overall construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
First announced four years ago, the $18-million facility will be leased to the port. It will accommodate up to 140 trucks on the east side of Highway 17A and, to the west, there will be a parking area for early arrival trucks, a restroom and an inspection area for B.C. Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement.
Only port-authorized trucks will be allowed to access the site, which will have surveillance cameras monitored by port security.
The Port of Vancouver notes the new facility will address long-standing road safety concerns by alleviating congestion along the Roberts Bank causeway, which can occur when trucks arrive early for their reservations or when there is a closure at the container terminal.
Port of Vancouver president and CEO Robin Silvester recently told the Optimist it has taken some time to develop due in part to obtaining necessary permissions from the province.
Delta councillors recently discussed the facility, expressing frustration that vegetative screening at a sufficient height doesn’t appear to be part of the project. They agreed to make another request for a row of trees to be planted at the edge of the parking lot.
An earlier Delta report noted, “Staff have been working with VFPA on a landscaping plan to mitigate the visual impact of the facility; however, the province has restrictions on the type and height of vegetation close to highways so screening is limited.”
Another previous report by city staff noted several concerns, including traffic enforcement and policing, as well as pressure on the province to eventually use the facility as a regional overnight parking facility.
Other concerns included the facility being designed to be "scalable" to accommodate port growth if Terminal 2 is approved, which means "significant implications" for adjacent agricultural lands.
