Sarnia is contributing to a business plan for a “heavy haul corridor” to assist local manufacturers in getting their products to market.
The city has earmarked $30,000 and staff time for the project, which is being undertaken jointly with the Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership and the Sarnia Lambton Industrial Alliance.
The Alliance represents about 40 companies in manufacturing, machining, engineering and the environmental and water treatment sectors.
The goal is to create a transportation corridor to get large, prefabricated components to the city-owned Sarnia Harbour for shipment west to Canada’s oilfields.
It would also help local petrochemical industries bring in to their operations large vessel that are fabricated elsewhere and difficult to move.
The business plan will assess potential roads, intersection changes, dockside improvements that will be needed, and their impact on street traffic.
It will also prepare cost estimates on removing overhead obstructions like hydro wires and other utilities.
The city’s share of the cost will come from a reserve fund set up for Sarnia Harbour.