It was a year of record-high of employment at the Site C dam construction site outside Fort St. John in 2022.

And BC Hydro says the earth fill dam crossing the Peace River is now 87% complete, saying progress last year “puts us in a good position to complete the remaining work on the dam” in 2023.

The $16-billion project saw four record employment peaks throughout the summer and fall, first in June with 5,209 workers and up to a record 5,554 workers in October, according to figures from BC Hydro.

There were 5,238 workers reported in November, the latest available data from the Crown utility released this week.

BC Hydro spokesman Bob Gammer says there was also a new peak set for women employed on the project at 589 in September, a record that was broken with 621 in October.

In the latest filing to the BC Utilities Commission, president and CEO Chris O’Riley says overall construction on the project is now more than 70% completed, with the earth fill dam now standing at an elevation of 445 metres.

“This past year was the busiest construction season yet on Site C and work continues to advance in all areas – with some parts of the project already completed or nearing completion,” O’Riley wrote in the Dec. 20 filing.

Close to 90% of concrete has been poured for the dam’s powerhouse, where the first generating unit is being installed. The penstocks, spillways, and approach channel “remain on track for completion in 2023,” according to O’Riley.

And along Highway 29, realignments were 90% complete as of the fall and expected to be finished this year. New bridges at Farrell Creek, Lynx Creek, Cache Creek, and Dry Creek have all been opened. A new bridge crossing the Halfway River will open later this year.

Keep reading on dawsoncreekmirror.ca

• 
•