Trans Mountain has started initial construction on its pipeline expansion through Blue River.
It’s been working at the Blue River Pump Station for several weeks, and will continue to for several months, and has also just started pre-construction on the pipeline right-of-way in that area.
Meantime, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trans Mountain says a work camp in Blue River likely won’t be needed until next spring.
“We are watching and considering the changes we are seeing as a result of COVID-19 and whether that impacts the availability of local accommodations for our workforce,” spokesperson Ali Hounsell tells NL News.
Area director Stephen Quinn says he’s been told there will be 500 people living at the work camp when it is up and running by next spring
“The pipeline is employing a few local people now. There is to be a work camp that was supposed to start this fall, but they’ve pushed it back to the spring of this year. I don’t know why, that’s all I’ve been informed. There are job opportunities, and perhaps the businesses will get a little bit, and the contractors will get a bit of work, I don’t know,” Quinn says.
“There will be some benefits, no doubt about it, and in the long term of course is an improved taxation base for the area, over the long term, by which we’re able to do stuff for people. To me, that’s where the long-term benefit is.”
During it’s pipeline expansion project, Trans Mountain will have five work camps set up, and it has already started building those camps in Valemount and Clearwater. There were also be work camps near Merritt and near Hope.