Our extensive road and marine fleet – as well as an integrated network of quarries, ready mix and asphalt plants, depots and docks – moves over eight million tonnes of material across the region annually.
This network is key to the sustainable construction of the Vancouver Mountain Highway project. We use barges as much as possible, which is a more efficient and environmentally-friendly method of material transport than trucking. This approach also helps relieve road congestion.
We are also taking the opportunity to incorporate sustainable construction practices. By using two-hundred thousand tonnes of recycled construction and demolition waste as aggregates, for example, we contribute to a circular economy in building and also keep waste out of area landfills.
As the work is so close to Lynn Creek – a highly sensitive spawning ground for salmon – all construction activity has been carefully designed to minimize environmental impact from the start. New drainage and treatment facilities will improve water quality. The Keith Creek habitat will also be moved further away from Highway 1 and its spawning area will be increased by nearly 24%. A revegetation plan involves planting of over 5,000 trees and 20,000 shrubs, thus harmonizing the construction with our shared ambition to build sustainably.
“Communities expect us to be leaders in all aspects of our business,” says Lincoln Kyne, Lafarge Canada’s Vice President for the Greater Vancouver area. “That includes minimizing our impact on the environment, and on the communities in which we work and live.”
