Tricar Group to Build New 12-Storey Highrise.

From Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer.

A new 12-storey high-rise apartment building could begin going up soon at the corner of London Road and Christina Street in Sarnia.

Mayor Mike Bradley said he met last week with representatives of London-based Tricar Group who indicated they are moving ahead with what will be the company’s third high-rise residential project in that area of the city.

The new 12-storey building is expected to have 126 rental units and the company wants to begin construction in May, Bradley said.

Last week, crews were carrying out soil testing on the site directly next to Water’s Edge, one of two residential towers Tricar built in recent years along Front Street.

“There are a few issues to be dealt with,” including possible soil remediation and “minor zoning relief,” Bradley said.

He said the project 'has been contemplated for some time' and that he has met with Tricar officials a few times over the years.

Last week’s meeting included Tricar owner Joe Carapella, along with members of his staff.

“He wants to get going,” Bradley said.

“They’re ready to move in May, and it would bring another couple of hundred people into the downtown core.”

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Image. Zach Neal.

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A Good Time for Young People In Trades.

From Melanie Irwin, Blackburn News.

BuildForce Canada says it’s a great time for young people to consider careers in the trades.

The organization’s latest labour market forecast is predicting that Ontario’s construction workforce will need to expand by more than 100,000 workers this decade to keep up with a series of major projects.

Executive Director Bill Ferreira says up to 87,000 construction workers are expected to retire in the next ten years.

“There will be considerable demand for construction [jobs] in Ontario,” says Ferreira. “We’re looking at about 20% of the Ontario construction workforce retiring during that period. So, it really is a good time for anyone who is considering what their career choice will be. Certainly take a look at the skilled trades because there are so many opportunities, even beyond construction, although obviously that’s where we would like them to come.”

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Ethane Pipeline Enters Service to Nova Site.

From Paul Morden, Sarnia Observer

A $500 million US pipeline project supplying an additional source of ethane to the Nova Chemicals Corunna site in St. Clair Township has gone into service.

Houston-based Kinder Morgan announced this month its 434-km Utopia Pipeline from Harrison County, Ohio to Windsor has begun operating.

It has an initial capacity of 50,000 barrels per day, with the potential to increase to more than 75,000 barrels per day. It delivers ethane from the Utica shale region of the eastern U.S. to Windsor and then on by other pipelines to Nova Chemicals Corunna site.

“The project team, in coordination with local, state and federal agencies, has done a tremendous job developing a project that provides ethane takeaway capacity from the Utica shale to the growing petrochemical industry,” Don Lindley, a pipeline president with Kinder Morgan, said in a news release.

Back in 2014, Nova Chemicals entered into a long-term agreement with Kinder Morgan to access ethane from the Utica shale region through the pipeline.

It is part of ongoing improvements at the Corunna site where ethane is made into ethylene Nova Chemicals processes into polyethylene plastic at nearby manufacturing sites.

In recent years, the company has switched the Corunna site from using oil feedstocks to use up to 100 per cent ethane, from natural gas piped from the Eastern U.S.

In December, Nova Chemicals announced it was moving ahead with a $2-billion project to double production at its Corunna site and build a new polyethylene plant next door.

The company already manufactures polyethylene at its Moore and St. Clair River sites in St. Clair Township.

A schedule provided by Nova Chemicals calls for site clearing, berm construction and other site preparations for the new polyethylene plant on Rokeby Line to be finished by the third quarter of this year.

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Image. Zach Neal.

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