Federal funding for six projects meant to clear bottlenecks

The federal government has announced $12 million in funding for six projects that will help remove bottlenecks in key corridors.

Through the National Trade Corridors Fund the government will contribute up to $5 million to the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority to install non-intrusive inspection technologies for commercial vehicles that will facilitate more efficient processing and reduced wait-times for trucks entering the U.S.

“The Pre-Arrival Readiness Evaluation (PARE) project is an innovative technology solution to expedite Canadian exports at one of Canada’s busiest border crossings. Shipments entering the United States will be adjudicated while in transit before they complete the Peace Bridge crossing, thereby minimizing delays and congestion at U.S. customs inspection,” said Tim Clutterbuck, chair of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority.

The second project will see $4.2 million going  to the St. John’s Port Authority for the wharf redevelopment at Pier 20 West and Pier 21 to address the growing demand for servicing inshore fishing vessels.

BlueNode Inc. will receive $2 million to introduce an artificial intelligence platform that will improve supply chain visibility at Canadian ports and support greater collaboration among supply chain players through intermodal interfaces.

British Columbia will get $675,000 to conduct a study of the Moray swing bridge, which crosses the Fraser River in the Greater Vancouver area, to improve the efficient movement of goods and people, increase the capacity and reliability of transportation and trade networks and address the projected impacts of climate change on key infrastructure.

The city of North Bay, Ontario, will receive $75,000 to conduct a feasibility study to identify and assess the options available to enhance the capacity of North Bay’s trade corridor.

The City of Toronto’s Economic Development Program will get $74,500 to assess the condition of old dockwalls at the Port of Toronto, resulting in a work plan to repair and upgrade the dockwalls to modern standards.