By Laura Keil
Valemount residents have been noticing fewer white Ledcor trucks around, but the company says there are still 1700 workers in the area, the same number the Goat reported last spring, and a number that will remain stable over the next few months according to the company.
At the peak, there were more than 2,000 workers living in the Valemount area, including about 70 locals.
A Trans Mountain spokesperson says some of the work is seasonal, however.
“During the winter months especially, construction projects can become more difficult for a variety of reasons, primarily to adapt to winter weather conditions. Specific or particularly harsh weather conditions could cause construction slowdowns and halts in the field. We anticipate field construction slowdowns and halts due to winter weather conditions and factor that into the schedule.”
Rentals are still in short supply. Jen Applebaum, a property manager in Valemount, said she hasn’t seen any decrease in demand.
“There are still new requests every day (on the Facebook rental page),” she said. “I don’t see anyone advertising spaces, I only see people looking.”
A spokesperson confirmed that mechanical completion of the pipeline is on track for the 3rd quarter of 2023.
