Excavation is slated to wrap up this summer on two huge tunnels at the $1.1-billion John Hart Generating Station replacement project near Campbell River, marking a milestone in the years-long effort.
Workers are carving the tunnels out of solid basalt rock. Tunnelling is scheduled to be complete on the 0.5-kilometre tailrace tunnel (designed to carry water from the turbine) in July.
The end of excavation on the nearly 1.6-kilometre-long main tunnel linking the John Hart Dam to the powerhouse should be complete in August.
Work began on the John Hart Generating Station replacement project in July 2014. It is on budget and on schedule to be finished in fall 2018. Tunnels will direct water from the Campbell River to turn a set of turbines in an underground powerhouse to produce electricity for Vancouver Island.
The new station is replacing a 1947 facility that might not withstand a major earthquake.
When work is finished, the station will be able to create power for 80,000 homes, up from 74,000 now.
There are 360 workers at the site. B.C. Hydro points out that there has not been an accident that resulted in any lost time since work began.
Project contractor is InPower BC, which is led by SNC-Lavalin, working with Aecon (civil engineering), Frontier-Kemper (tunnelling) and General Electric (turbine/generator supplier).
Tours are put on annually. Last year about 1,000 people visited. The next tour will be on July 9, with buses picking up passengers starting at 9:30 a.m. at Spirit Square in Campbell River.
