B.C. communities seek compensation for road wear caused by Trans Mountain pipeline expansion

Leaders from three B.C. communities situated along the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) are preparing to seek compensation from the federal government for wear and tear on their roads caused by the project, expected to be completed this year.

Valemount Mayor Owen Torgerson, along with Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell and Simpcw First Nation Chief George Lampreau, told CBC News that they are in the early stages of determining how much money they will request from Trans Mountain, a federal Crown corporation, to address the wear and tear on roads in their communities resulting from the passage of construction trucks.

"We're currently compiling what those numbers might look like," Torgerson told guest host Doug Herbert on CBC's Daybreak Kamloops.

"We will be submitting them an invoice, and if it is not paid, we'll be forwarding that to our member of Parliament, who can forward it right to the prime minister."

Heavy trucks passing through communities

The TMX project, approved by Ottawa in 2019, involves the twinning of the existing 1,150-kilometre oil pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby.

Trans Mountain Corporation reported in March this year that the estimated $31 billion TMX project was nearly 80 per cent complete, and the new pipeline is anticipated to become operational in the first quarter of 2024.

The corporation says on its website that it has been working with First Nations and communities along the construction route to minimize disruptions caused by the project, such as noise, light pollution, dust and truck traffic.

However, it doesn't reference damage tothe roads fromcommercial vehicles usingthe project.

Blackwell says it's an issue.

"A lot of heavy onesloaded [with] welding rigs [have been] driving around our neighbourhoods, a lot of extra [weight] beyond what we would normally see, so there is a lot of wear and tear," he toldDaybreak Kamloops.

CBC News reached out to Trans Mountain Corporation for comment, and itsaid it would respond in due course.

Some municipalities report no major road impacts

However, Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz said the trucks mostly use the Coquihalla Highway bypassingthe city, and it hasn't been a problemfor Merritt.

"A lot of our main roads were never touched.

"If you talked to some of the farmers and ranchers around here, you'd find out that some of the roads got abused a little bit more than they preferred, but we had no road problems, no congestion problems or anything like that," Goetz said on CBC'sDaybreak Kamloops.

KamloopsCoun. Mike O'Reillyagreed that heavy trucks used in the TMX project haven't caused as much damage to roads in his city compared to smaller communities.

"Where you see in smaller communities is there's basically one main road that everybody has to take.

"Everybody knows the transportation highway network that runs through Kamloops, so the heavy equipment would just run on short spans," O'Reilly toldDaybreak Kamloops.

Despite the wear and tear on transportation infrastructure caused by TMX trucks, the mayors of Valemount and Clearwater admitted that the project has attracted more people to their communities, stimulating their economies.

Lampreau highlighted the numerous job opportunities the TMX project has created for residents on the Simpcw reserve.

"We like to take advantage of the opportunities and be a participant in the economy in a positive way."