Five years after the first arrests on Burnaby Mountain over the Trans Mountain expansion project, the company said “expansion project pipe” will be “in the ground before Christmas.”
Trans Mountain made the announcement today as project CEO Ian Anderson was joined by Seamus O'Regan, federal minister of natural resources, and Sonya Savage, Alberta minister of energy, to mark the start of pipeline construction.
“Getting shovels in the ground in Alberta and kicking off pipeline construction is a pivotal moment for Trans Mountain,” said Anderson, in a news release. “We are proud of the project we have designed and the innovative measures we are implementing that demonstrate the kind of rigour and detail that will go into every stage of this project to mitigate risks, respect the rights of those directly affected and operate safely.”
Today’s event kicks off pipeline construction in Greater Edmonton, which includes approximately 50 kilometres of pipeline running from Trans Mountain’s Edmonton Terminal in Sherwood Park to Acheson, Alta. SA Energy Group, the general pipeline construction contractor for “spread 1,” has begun pipe transport, stringing and other preparation work that is necessary before pipeline installation.
Trans Mountain officially re-started construction on Aug. 22, with work underway at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby and at pump stations in Alberta.
The work includes site preparation activities, in-water construction of new shipping berths, foreshore extension work and facility upgrades, the company said.
“Construction is expected to begin shortly in Spread 2 (Yellowhead), as crews are finishing up pre-construction activities and environmental surveys in that area,” said a news release.
As of Oct. 31, close to six million person hours have been spent on the project, the company said and more than half of the pipe needed for construction has been received.
