Fortis BC plans to upgrade approximately 2.7 kilometres of its existing transmission line on Fox Mountain in Williams Lake, Fortis manager of corporate services and Aboriginal affairs Bob Gibney told city council at its regular meeting Tuesday.
Initially installed in 1957, the pipeline is inspected on an annual basis.
“It’s through the inspection program it was determined that section should be replaced to meet new requirements,” Gibney said.
All of the transmission gas line is underground on the northwest to northeast side of Fox Mountain and connects with the Spectra Energy transmission line.
“Our line goes from transmission pressure to distribution pressure to service the local community,” Gibney explained.
Equipment that will be used for the upgrade is made for working on extremely steep slopes as Fortis recognizes the sensitivity of Fox Mountain, he added.
“The plan is to compress the right of way clearing to the absolute minimum without cutting all the trees down or losing the root base,” Gibney said. “”We don’t want to causing any unnecessary erosion.”
While the project hasn’t been tendered to contractors yet, Fortis will encourage the successful bidder to use local equipment, manpower and services.
It is anticipated the project will take about 10 weeks.
There is some marketable timber in the area that will be assessed during a field walk by Fortis staff on March 10.
Gas rates will impacted because of the project, but at this point that amount isn’t known, Gibney said.
“This project is less than two per cent of our total capital expenditures for the year.”
