As of the end of March, construction on the 670-km Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline was nearly 87% complete, according to an update from TC Energy.

Despite the upcoming spring break-up season, which will reduce field construction work due to soft, thawing ground conditions, the company stated that workers would continue to focus on critical and seasonally sensitive work while ensuring the integrity of site conditions and enhancing erosion and sediment control measures.

The update revealed that 587 km of the pipe had already been installed, and 85% of water crossings along the route were complete.

Pipeline installation in sections 1 and 4 of the project was already finished, while installation along section 3, which crosses Highway 97 just north of Bear Lake, was 87.1% complete as of March 31, with the remaining six sections of the project 60.9% to 98.3% complete.

The project employed 5,513 workers, with 1,241 based out of Parsnip Lodge north of Prince George, reaching more than 44 million hours of work as of the end of March.