THUNDER BAY — The $15 million dollar transformation of the Thunder Bay Port Authority's general and project cargo terminal is nearing completion.
The project was launched in 2018 to meet the growing demand for cargo staging, storage space and rail capacity.
It includes a new, clear-span warehouse that can accommodate fabrication and light manufacturing.
The 50,000-square-foot warehouse replaces an aging on-dock storage shed which will be removed to improve cargo flow and safety at the terminal.
It's expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2020.
Other improvements include 2,800 feet of upgraded rail track, reconfiguring of the track to improve cargo-handling efficiency, and a net increase of 18 rail car spots.
There is also six acres of new cargo laydown space adjacent to the track.
In a statement Tuesday, the port authority said the capital investment adds value for shippers moving cargo to western Canada by increasing indoor and outdoor storage capacity, streamlining cargo-handling, and expanding the capacity for cargo fabrication.
More than half the cost of the upgrades was covered with grants from the National Trade Corridors Fund and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
Shipping-related activity contributes an estimated $370 million annually to Thunder Bay's economy and directly employs 900 people.
