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A construction crane is perched atop a large barge floating in the water at Belleville Terminal in Victoria, B.C.’s Inner Harbour, its metallic boom protruding high above the dusty brown platform.

Operators on excavators equipped with grappling hooks are kicking up clouds of dust as they claw at the field of debris around them. There are chunks of concrete and twisted rebar everywhere.

Nearby, another excavator is tearing away at the terminal deck, ripping up the concrete overlay and exposing the underlying metal beams and posts.

The $416-million redevelopment project, which involves demolishing the existing Clipper terminal, building a new pre-clearance terminal building with modern border-security standards, and replacing other aging wharf facilities, has moved into its second and final stage.

The first phase of the project has been completed and included modifications and expansion of the Steamship Wharf, construction of a temporary covered walkway and modifications to the Steamship and Black Ball buildings to accommodate Canadian Border Services Agency operations.

The second phase of the project began this past summer. The work will transform the site into a modern pre-clearance facility for international travel between Vancouver Island and Washington State. The terminal serves as a busy gateway for passengers.

“Crews are actively removing the former Clipper terminal infrastructure using specialized equipment, including a barge, crane and excavators, to dismantle structures safely and efficiently,” says a statement prepared for the Journal of Commerce by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit.

“Upcoming site work includes widening and paving the site entrance to support future construction activities and installing site offices and trailers to accommodate workforce onsite.”

Pomerleau Inc. has been awarded the design-build contract for the second phase of the project.

The new terminal building, which is provincially owned and privately operated, is being built to provide a secure and inclusive international port of entry and terminal facility that will meet obligations under the Canada-U.S. Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance Agreement.

The aim is to achieve LEED Gold certification and comply with CleanBC standards as well as Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility gold certification.

Upon completion, the new terminal will include a commercial goods processing facility and commercial retail unit. Improvements will also be made to Belleville Street, including sidewalks and walkways.

In addition to the other work, crews are in the process of removing existing concrete wharf panels and timber piles. Terminal structures are being disassembled and removed, with onsite sorting and recycling of materials to reduce waste and meet LEED certification requirements.

Vibration and sound levels are being monitored in real time to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

Additional trailers are being brought in to accommodate the workforce. Dredging to remove contaminated soils is expected to start this winter.

Materials from the demolished structures, like steel, timber and concrete, are being sorted and recycled to reduce waste and environmental impact. The project has 35 to 45 workers onsite daily.

The anticipated price tag has risen from an original estimate of $331 million due to complex geotechnical and seismic conditions, site constraints and significant soil contamination.

The project is taking place within the territories of the Lekwungen people, represented by the Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation. The project team is working collaboratively with both First Nation communities and is discussing how to incorporate art of the Lekwungen people into the new terminal.

The concept extends to the fencing panels that were installed around the perimeter of the construction zone. The panels recognize the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples and aim to educate and inform the public about the area’s cultural and historical significance.

The transportation and transit ministry states the highest energy efficiency standards and resiliency standards for a changing climate are being incorporated into the venture with an aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate site contamination and integrate renewable materials.

The government is also looking to grow the skilled labour workforce through apprenticeships and skills training, including employment opportunities for Indigenous people, women and underrepresented groups.

The terminal is being built to meet or exceed all safety standards and boost the regional, provincial and national economies, with an anticipated $257 million in visitor spending and 3,200 jobs a year in 20 years.

More than 680,000 passengers travelled through the Belleville Terminal in 2019, and they spent about $174 million in the Greater Victoria Region, which generated $268 million in provincial economic output and $155 million in provincial GDP.

The terminal generates 220,000 overnight visitors and sells more than 16,000 vacation packages annually to passengers, all of which are provided by local businesses in Victoria.