Public notice

Pier 2-5 rehabilitation - CN Fraser River rail bridge – Public comments invited

April 24, 2026 – The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Transport Canada must determine whether the proposed Pier 2-5 rehabilitation - CN Fraser River rail bridge, located on the Fraser River Rail Bridge, Mile Post 118.7 on CN Yale Subdivision is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Transport Canada are inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority  will serve as the lead authority for this project review and will be the primary point of contact receiving comments, coordinating their distribution and ensuring input from the other federal agencies. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website. In addition, your contact information may be shared with third parties, e.g., the tenant, other relevant agencies, to help respond to your questions and inform possible mitigations.

Written comments must be submitted by May 23, 2026, to:

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Project and Environmental Review
100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3T4
per@portvancouver.com

The proposed project

Canadian National Railway Company (CN) is proposing to rehabilitate (i.e., seismic retrofit upgrades) the in-river Piers 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the CN Fraser River rail bridge at Mile 118.7 on the Yale Subdivision, as the bridge is within a seismically active zone. The bridge is located parallel to and between the old Pattullo Bridge and the new stal̕əw̓ asəm (Riverview) Bridge in the Fraser River Estuary, between Surrey and New Westminster. Pier 2 is located outside federal lands.

The rehabilitation design for Piers 3 and 4 differs at each location but is based on an integrated sleeve frame system that is supported and bounded by a series of 1,524 mm diameter steel pipes strengthened with rebar and concrete. The frame system will be connected to the existing masonry and each concrete pier shaft above the waterline. Approximately 16 piles will be required: 6 piles for Pier 3 and 10 piles for Pier 4. In addition, composite marine timber walers will be installed at Pier 3 and 4 to mitigate any potential vessel collision. Temporary work platforms will be installed around each pier to facilitate construction activities, including temporary piles to support the frame system. Riprap removal surrounding existing piers may be required if piles cannot be driven through riprap. Riprap will be temporarily relocated out of the immediate work area to allow for pile installation, after which the original riprap will be reinstated around the installed pile.

The rehabilitation design for Pier 5 includes steel rings and struts that will be connected to the existing fender piling. Work below the waterline at Pier 5 is not anticipated. Work barges may be required for material delivery and installation of steel rings and struts. These activities may temporarily affect vessel movements in either the North or South Navigation Channels.

Construction is anticipated to commence in summer 2026 and be completed by the end of 2027. The work will be conducted in a manner consistent with the previously completed seismic retrofits at Pier 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.