Construction work is about to start on Stage 2 of Yukon Energy’s Carmacks-Stewart transmission line. The line materials have been ordered and Valard Construction will start assembling and installing the poles for the transmission line tomorrow. The stringing of the line will begin in the summer, with completion expected by this fall.
Valard, in partnership with the Northern Tutchone First Nations, is the same company that built the transmission line for Stage 1, which runs from Carmacks to Pelly Crossing with a spur into the Minto mine site. Stage 2, from Pelly Crossing to Stewart Crossing, will connect Yukon Energy’s two major grids and allow the Corporation to operate the assets as one interconnected system. Valard has again partnered with the Northern Tutchone First Nations to complete Stage 2. The contract is worth $11-million.
“We were very pleased with the work that Valard and the Northern Tutchone First Nations did on Stage 1 and we’re happy to have them with us again for the second part of the project,” Yukon Energy president David Morrison said. “Once Stage 2 is in service late this year or early next, customers throughout the integrated Yukon grid can be served with clean, renewable power.”
The project is within Yukon Energy’s expected time frame and budget.
The flagging of the right of way area to be cleared, done by Challenger Geomatics, took place in November and December, 2009. That work is now complete, and Challenger has also finished marking where the transmission poles will go. The value of the contract with Challenger is approximately $472-thousand.
The clearing was finished in early February. The $1.6 million clearing contract was awarded to Pelly Construction Ltd, the managing partner on behalf of the Northern Tuchone Joint Venture Partnership comprised of Pelly Construction Ltd., Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation, Selkirk Development Corporation, and Carmacks Development Corporation. All subcontracted companies were Yukon-based, directly employing between 12 and 15 Yukoners to complete the right-of-way clearing work.
“With the majority of resources for clearing, including labour, equipment and materials being sourced in Yukon, we are pleased to report that 99 percent of the revenues associated with this project will stay in the territory,” Pelly Construction Vice President Jess Jewell said. “This includes wages, food, fuel, equipment and other services. We are especially appreciative of everyone’s efforts and thank the various First Nation communities for their support while working in their traditional territories.”
“As a testament to local skills and job safety, the clearing work has been completed under often challenging terrain and inclement weather conditions without a single medical aid or loss time incident,” Jewell added.
Economic spin-offs from the surveying work include the salaries of two Yukoners, the rental for several weeks of a house from the Selkirk Development Corporation, groceries, and gas.
The Carmacks-Stewart Transmission Project has been through an extensive executive committee level screening by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board and has been reviewed by the Yukon Utilities Board. It is being paid for by contributions from the federal government's Green Infrastructure Fund, and from the Yukon government and Yukon Development Corporation.
For safety reasons, Yukoners are asked to stay away from the active building zone while the line construction is taking place. If they absolutely must enter the worksite area, they must wear safety clothing and to prearrange access with the on-site project manager. Contact information for the project manager will be posted at worksite access points along the Klondike Highway, or can be obtained by contacting Yukon Energy.
Contact:
Janet Patterson
Supervisor, Communications
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
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