Port Moody residents around Burrard Inlet may be in for some noisy nights as Pacific Coast Terminals prepares for a month of overnight construction work.
Starting Sunday and running until the end of February, PCT will be excavating and doing other work to extend the railway tracks as part of the company's expansion to handle potash and canola oil. When the work is complete PCT will have an additional set of tracks to enable movement of empty rail cars from the potash unloading facility, according to PCT's website.
The work requires low-tide conditions, which, at this time of year, come during the middle of the night.
"We've done some modelling and it's going to be around the same as… the Barnet Highway background noise," said Wade Leslie, PCT's vice-president and general manager. "The concern is that it will be different noise, it won't be the background hum, it will be more intermittent."
The work will include selective removal of vegetation and trees and the existing retaining structure, followed by installation of aggregate and/or lock blocks, and will require the use of excavators, bulldozers, light towers and generators.
Port Metro Vancouver has authorized the work on the condition that only work that can't happen during the day be done between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., and that PCT must circulate a notice to surrounding residents.
As well, PCT is required to modify back-up alarms on equipment, minimize handling and drop distances when placing materials, and address all complaints in a timely manner, including operating a staffed phone line where complaints will be immediately received and relayed to the contractor so work can be adjusted.
PCT has not, however, obtained the city's permission for the overnight work.
Mayor Mike Clay told The Tri-City News in an email that staff have communicated PoMo's concerns about the work running afoul of the city's noise bylaws and have refused a variance application from PCT.
"Of course, it would be unfortunate if they knowingly choose to violate our bylaws and ignore the concerns raised by our staff," Clay wrote. "The residents of this area have experienced months of disruption from the Evergreen Line and the previous projects at PCT for the canola tanks and the potash shed.
"We would expect that PCT, with their long history of corporate citizenry in our community, will respect our bylaws and the residents, and not create additional hardship on their neighbours."
Leslie acknowledged PCT had not obtained a variance from Port Moody but would be proceeding with the work. Asked whether the work could be delayed until low-tide conditions were present during the day, Leslie said prior experience showed it could be more of a disturbance.
"Some of the feedback we received when we were doing our other work, the piledriving, was if it's something noisy to please try and do it in the winter when people have their windows closed," Leslie said.
Port Metro said PCT's track modification work is expected to take seven months and while most of it will be during the day, the shifting tides and the upcoming fisheries sensitivity period from March 1 to Aug. 15, which limits work in the water, scheduling overnight work allows construction equipment to operate safely.
