North America’s Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is set to begin construction on the Ridley Island Export Logistics Project (RIELP) in British Columbia, Canada.

The new large-scale logistics project will improve the capacity and capability for rail-to-container transloading for several export items.

It will be a 108-acre greenfield development on Ridley Island and is expected to open for operation in the third quarter of 2026.

Ray-Mont Logistics will build and manage facilities capable of handling 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of agricultural, forestry, and plastic resin items.

The project will also feature an extension of the existing Ridley Island Road Rail Utility Corridor to allow for 10,000ft-long unit trains direct access to the site from the CN network.

The transload facilities will be linked to Fairview Container Terminal via a direct private road connection, the 5km Fairview-Ridley Connector Corridor, ensuring that all product movements will be under PRPA authority.

Construction of the project is in line with the PRPA's land use plan and intermodal development strategy.

The major contract for the development of the Ridley Island site has been granted to an Indigenous joint venture organisation comprised of Metlakatla First Nation, Lax Kw'alaams Band, Gitxaaa Nation, and IDL Projects.

Gat Leedm Logistics, in which Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams hold a controlling stake, will provide truck drayage services.

PRPA, Ray-Mont Logistics, CN, the Canadian government, and the Government of British Columbia have invested approximately C$750m ($548m) total capital investment in RIELP.

The National Transportation Corridor Fund of Canada will provide $64.8m while the province's StrongerBC programme will contribute $25m.