Coastal GasLink building 900-bed work camp for pipeline crews, west of Prince George

Coastal GasLink is breaking ground on a 900 person work camp for pipeline crews, about 100 kilometres west of Prince George.

As initial work gets underway, Coastal GasLink told CBC News the camp is scheduled to be open by summer.

The Vanderhoof Lodge will beone of 14 work camps housingcrews constructingthe Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline, Three camps along the 670 kilometre route are already operating, according to the company.

"All essential activities are continuing along the route," said Suzanne Wilton, Coastal GasLink'scommunications team Lead.

The pipeline construction along thatroute has been very controversial.

A portion of the route through the traditional territories of several Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefshas sparked high-profile opposition.

When the RCMP raided Wet'suwet'en camps on the contested pipeline route, there were nationwide solidarity marches and rail blockades in support of the hereditary chiefs.

But Coastal GasLink has also signed agreements with all 20 elected First Nations councils along the route, from northeastern B.C.'s gas fields to an LNG terminal under construction in Kitimat.

Coastal GasLink says the work camp in Vanderhoof is being built in partnership with the local Nakazdli Whut'en and Saik'uz First Nations.

And municipal leaders welcome the camp.

"We're pretty excited," VanderhoofMayor Gerry Thiessen told CBC News.

With the downturn in forestry, Thiessen says he's grateful for the investment in the local economy.

"This is new territory for us. Wehaven't worked with oil and gas before," said Thiessen.

The work campwill consist of modular trailers set in a field near the Vanderhoof airport.

Thiessen says the land, temporarily removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve, includes a small section of hayfield as well as bush that's being cleared.

Coastal GasLink says the ground's being prepared by a local contractor and crew, who are abiding by health regulations,includingphysical distancing. Private health care staff are also on site, according to the company.