An 鈥渋mmediate return to work鈥� has been issued by Trans Mountain for two Burnaby sites for the pipeline expansion project.
That鈥檚 according to a news release sent today (Wednesday), in which the company says 鈥渘otice to proceed鈥� directives have been given to some of its prime construction contractors, 鈥渢riggering mobilization of the initial workforce necessary to build the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.鈥�
Contractors have now been given 30 days to 鈥渕obilize equipment and commence the process of hiring workers, procuring goods and services, and developing detailed construction work plans,鈥� said the news release.
While some sites along the pipeline route won鈥檛 see work continue until regulatory approvals and permits are in place, there will be an 鈥渋mmediate return to work鈥� at the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and on land at Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby.
鈥淚 am pleased to announce another significant milestone for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project with the commencement of construction activities and the issuance of the notice to some contractors to begin mobilizing equipment and crews in select areas in August and September 2019,鈥� said Ian Anderson, president and CEO of Trans Mountain Corporation, in the news release. 鈥淲ith the first wave of regulatory approvals complete, we are confident that we have a path forward by which the Expansion Project construction can commence.鈥�
Trans Mountain said it expects it will receive clearance of all other outstanding regulatory approvals and permits for the remaining construction areas.
鈥淭he timelines for approval of all outstanding regulatory matters could have an impact on Project costs, schedules and final in-service dates; however, if approvals are received as anticipated, the Trans Mountain Expansion Project will be in-service by mid-2022,鈥� said the company.
The company estimated that approximately 4,200 workers are expected to be employed in communities along the route in the fourth quarter of 2019.聽
鈥淥ver the coming months, we will continue our engagement with Indigenous communities along the construction corridor,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淲e are committed to ensuring the Project incorporates all appropriate measures to protect the cultural, environmental and local Indigenous interests in the lands and waters through construction and into operation.鈥�
