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Inland Gas Upgrades

We’re upgrading 29 sections of our existing natural gas lines throughout inland regions of BC. These upgrades, combined with our ongoing inspection and maintenance activities, will make sure these lines continue to provide safe, reliable service for many years to come.

Construction overview

Some of the upgrades will allow us to inspect the inside of the gas lines using up-to-date in-line inspection equipment. This equipment will provide detailed information about the condition of each line which will help us to better plan and manage maintenance work. Construction activity includes reducing bends in the pipe and replacing fittings so the inspection equipment can move through the gas line. 

Other upgrades include replacing gas lines and adding some pressure regulating stations that regulate the pressure of gas so that it can be moved safely through our system and delivered to homes and businesses.

We appreciate the public’s patience as we complete this work safely and as quickly as possible. To stay up-to-date on the project, subscribe to our newsletter.

Construction locations

In 2023, construction and related activities will be taking place across nine communities (see work location maps by clicking on the regions listed below). Site preparation work is expected to begin in late spring and summer with the majority of construction taking place throughout the summer into early fall.

Most work will be in remote locations with minimal public impacts. Traffic control personnel will be in place when equipment is moved into or out of work sites.

Work location map of Williams Lake for 2023
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Williams Lake

  • We are installing a pressure regulation station northeast of the Williams Lake Regional Airport.
Work location map of Prince George for IGU in 2023
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Prince George

  • We are upgrading two pressure regulating stations at separate locations.

Map of Kimberley 2023 work locations for the IGU project
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Kimberley

  • We anticipate continuing upgrades at a few locations along our gas line.
Sparwood map of IGU construction locations for 2023
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Sparwood

  • We are continuing work on our gas line at several locations and upgrading an existing pressure regulating station northeast of Industrial 2 Rd and Michel Creek Rd.

Castlegar 2023 work locations for the IGU project
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Castlegar

  • We are installing two pressure regulation stations off Woodland Dr.
Map of work locations in Trail for the 2023 construction season of IGU
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Trail

  • We are upgrading an existing compressor station and gas line.
Kamloops map showing 2023 work locations including Kenna Cartwright Park
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Kamloops

  • We are finishing upgrades that began in 2022 on our 3.6 kilometre gas line that runs through Kenna Cartwright Park. The work is taking place within the utility corridor and right-of-way that extends from the southern parking lot to the Domtar facility along Red-Tailed Hawk Trail.
  • Upgrades began in July and are expected to be complete by the end of summer.
  • We anticipate vegetation management and restoration activities will take place from September to October and continue in 2024 to align with optimal vegetation planting periods. During this time, we restore the areas we worked in. This means leaving the areas in as good – or better – condition than before we arrived, from replanting vegetation to restoring trails.
  • We ask the public to watch for any vehicles and equipment, stay within the marked paths and follow the directions provided by signage and crew members. When required, temporary detours will be in place.

Read our Q&As for additional information on our restoration activities in Kenna Cartwright Park. 

Map of Kelowna 2023 work locations for the IGU project
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Kelowna

  • We are upgrading an existing pressure regulating station in the northwest corner of the Walmart parking lot.
  • Work will not prevent access to the store. 
  • Most work will take place in July and August and will be localized to a small corner of the large parking area.
Work location map of Vernon for IGU in 2023
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Vernon

  • We are installing a new pressure regulation station and approximately 800 metres of gas line to connect it to our system.
  • Work will be taking place adjacent to Bench Row Rd and crews will be visible to passersby.
  • We anticipate minimal disruption to traffic and will have traffic control in place when moving equipment to and from the site.

Project timeline

We submitted an application to our regulator, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), in 2018 and received approval in January 2020. Over the course of the project, work will take place across 18 communities in the Northern, Cariboo, Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions of BC.

January 2020

Received BCUC approval

Our regulator, the BC Utilities Commission, approved our application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project.

Summer 2020

Construction Year 1

In 2020, construction began in Mackenzie, Cranbrook and Sparwood.

Summer 2021

Construction Year 2

The second year of Inland Gas Upgrades project took place in seven communities across BC.

Summer 2022

Construction Year 3

The third year of construction took place across 12 communities in BC.

2023

Construction Year 4

Work will be taking place across nine communities in BC. 

2024

Anticipated construction

Additional construction is planned to continue seasonally as we work across 18 communities throughout the province.

August 21, 2023

Work scope in Kamloops remains fluid

Amongst changes to public access to nature parks, we remain in contact with the City of Kamloops and the Kamloops Fire Chief about our work scope within Kenna Cartwright Park. Our crews are continuing to work in the park to complete upgrades and protect infrastructure that is at risk from elevated fire danger in the area. We are maintaining strict mitigation measures such as fire watch, security and fire protection equipment on site which we have made available to the City of Kamloops in the event of a fire in the area. During periods of park closures, we conduct only essential work. Please see our August 10, 2023 update below for more details about essential work and mitigation measures.

August 11, 2023

Work scope expands following re-opening of parks

The City of Kamloops re-opened nature parks today. The resulting restrictions that only permitted FortisBC to conduct essential work in Kenna Cartwright Park have been lifted. 

As our project’s full work scope resumes, FortisBC will continue to implement fire mitigating measures at our work sites and adjust our work to follow requirements of the BC Wildfire Service, City of Kamloops and the Kamloops Fire Chief. 

August 10, 2023

Essential work permitted in Kenna Cartwright Park

Starting today, FortisBC is conducting only essential work on our gas line upgrades in Kenna Cartwright Park in accordance with our Wildfire Exemption provided by the BC Wildfire Service and agreed with the City of Kamloops and the Kamloops Fire Chief. This decision is in the interest of public safety and follows the recent closure of nature parks in the area.

Essential work is critical work required to protect the environment, our customers’ service, and our infrastructure from the risk posed by the elevated fire danger rating in the area. This work will involve completing the gas line upgrades and burying the infrastructure at a couple of localized areas along the construction right of way. All non-essential work is on hold until the risk of conducting such work is reduced. 

During this time, our crews are following strict mitigation measures that are in addition to those mandated by regulations. Such measures include, but are not limited to: 

  • 24-hour security and fire watch personnel monitoring the area and our infrastructure.
  • Only conducting welding, cutting or grinding in pre-wetted areas cleared of vegetation and surrounded by a tent or excavated ditch.
  • Having additional fire protection equipment onsite including a water truck (minimum 4000 US gallons), a firefighting trailer (minimum 300 US gallons), additional pump, hose and water tank; and fire extinguishers and support equipment for crews.

We have also offered access to the City of Kamloops to the above equipment and resources in the event of a fire in the area during this period of elevated fire danger and current drought conditions.
 

June 19, 2023

Fourth year of project brings more benefits

We’re starting our fourth year of construction on the Inland Gas Upgrades (“IGU”) Project. In 2023 we’re working on several Pressure Regulating Stations (PRS) throughout our system. These stations can be found safely operating throughout our service territory and help us regulate the pressure of gas so it can be safely moved through our system and delivered to homes and businesses. Other work includes replacing some gas lines and upgrading others to use up-to-date in-line inspection equipment. This equipment will provide detailed information about the condition of each line, which will help us to better plan and manage maintenance work.

In 2023, we'll be working in nine communities throughout the province:

  • Northern Interior – we'll be returning to work in Prince George.
  • Central Interior – we'll be installing a PRS in Williams Lake. 
  • East Kootenay region – we'll be returning to work in Kimberley and Sparwood. 
  • West Kootenay region – we'll be starting work in Castlegar and Trail. 
  • Thompson-Okanagan – we'll be completing our gas line upgrade in Kamloops and commencing new work in Vernon and Kelowna.

The IGU Project continues to uphold its commitment to providing social and economic benefits to B.C. communities. In 2022, the project spent approximately $56 million through commitments to 145 B.C.-based businesses and contracted $12.7 million worth of goods and services from 102 vendors local to the communities where the IGU Project worked. 

Through targeted procurement, training and employment efforts we have continued to provide opportunities for local and Indigenous-owned businesses year-over-year. For example, in 2022 the project expended approximately $9.8 million to local Indigenous-owned or affiliated vendors compared to $9.3 million in 2021, and $750,000 in 2020, the first year of construction. 

May 31, 2022

Project enters third year and benefits continue to grow

We’re starting our third year of construction on the Inland Gas Upgrades (“IGU”) project. In 2022 we’re working in 12 communities across the province with site preparation work starting in late spring and summer and construction taking place throughout the summer and fall.

  • In the Cariboo-Northern Interior we’re returning to work in Prince George and Mackenzie and starting upgrades to our gas line in Quesnel. 
  • In the Kootenay region we’re returning to work in Cranbrook, Skookumchuck, Sparwood and Elkford. 
  • We’re also upgrading our gas line in Kamloops and our line that extends from Salmon Arm through Enderby and Armstrong to the Township of Spallumcheen.

FortisBC is committed to ensuring the IGU project provides social and economic benefits to B.C. communities. In 2021 $38.5 million of project expenditure went to 190 B.C.-based businesses and, of that, $14.2 million was local to the seven communities where construction occurred. Community investment also included support to local initiatives like a community bus in Mackenzie, an outdoor venue in Elkford and forest trail maintenance in Cranbrook, among others. 

Through targeted procurement, training and employment efforts we’ve successfully increased the opportunities for local and Indigenous-owned businesses year-over-year. For example, in 2020 approximately $750,000 of IGU expenditures were to Indigenous vendors local to the three communities where we worked. In 2021, this increased to $9.3 million across seven communities. We look forward to building on this success by supporting new communities and opportunities as the project continues in the coming years.

October 29, 2021

Upcoming geotechnical investigations in Kenna Cartwright Nature Park, Kamloops

To prepare for upgrading our gas line in Kamloops in 2022, we will be carrying out geotechnical investigations in Kenna Cartwright Park starting November 9 until early December. These investigations will involve drilling narrow, vertical holes so we can learn more about the subsurface soil and rock conditions. The work will take place on our existing right of way.

There will be some temporary trail closures required when crews move equipment in and out of work areas. Trail closure signage will be in place to inform trail users to select an alternate route. We ask the public to please follow the directions of signs or crew members working near the trails and stay within the marked paths. 

We appreciate the public’s patience as we strive to complete this work safely and as quickly as possible.

If you are interested in learning more about our planned work for Kamloops in 2022, please view our overview video

October 20, 2021

Join us for upcoming Kamloops information sessions

We're hosting two virtual information sessions on November 24 and 25, 2021 to hear from the Kamloops community and provide a project update on our upcoming work in Kenna Cartwright Park in 2022.

Please join us to learn more, ask questions and share your thoughts. Visit our events calendar for full information session details and to register.

May 26, 2021

Construction resuming for year two of project

Construction on this project will start in June for its second year and continue throughout the summer into fall. In 2021 we will be working in seven communities across the province – Cranbrook, Kimberley, Skookumchuck, Elkford and Sparwood in the Kootenay region and Prince George and Mackenzie in the Northern Interior. 

Work will primarily be taking place in rural areas on existing FortisBC rights-of-way with limited public impacts. In some locations, people may see crews temporarily working alongside highways or public roads within a community. We will have traffic control personnel working as needed to safely direct motorists, cyclists or pedestrians through the area.

FortisBC is committed to supporting those communities where the Inland Gas Project is taking place. In 2020 we did this through community investment, supporting training opportunities and hiring local businesses. In fact, we contracted 89 British Columbia-based suppliers for the project last year – over half of which were local to the three communities where we worked. This equates to $1.7 million of local expenditure – of which 44 per cent was to Indigenous suppliers. We look forward to supporting new communities and opportunities as this project progresses in the years ahead.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, FortisBC’s primary goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, contractors, and surrounding communities. We expect everyone working on this project to respect safety plans and strictly follow Ministry of Health orders and guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at our worksites.

February 16, 2021

Where we are working in 2021

Work on the Inland Gas Upgrades project will take place in seven communities in 2021. In the Kootenay region we will be working at various locations along our gas lines in the Cranbrook, Kimberley, Elkford, Sparwood and Skookumchuck areas. In the Northern Interior we are returning to Mackenzie and starting upgrades to our existing gas line in Prince George. 

The majority of the work will be to reconfigure sections of our gas lines – such as straightening bends – to ensure in-line inspection equipment can easily pass through and gather information about the condition of our gas lines.

We expect to start preparation work as early as April with construction occurring throughout the summer and early fall. 

To find out more information about this project, please visit the project Overview page. If you are interested in getting further project updates please sign up for our Talking Energy Inland Gas Upgrades project newsletter.

September 18, 2020

Upcoming field work in the North, Interior, and Kootenay regions

As part of our early work on the Inland Gas Upgrades project, we will be assessing and investigating potential work sites in and around several communities this fall. These communities include the Prince George, Salmon Arm, Spallumcheen, Enderby, and Armstrong areas, as well as near Kimberley and Skookumchuck in the East Kootenay. Further exploratory work will extend to areas where gas line construction is currently underway, including Mackenzie, Cranbrook, Elk Valley and the surrounding areas.

This early work will enable us to map out specific sites for future upgrades and will also involve inspecting existing gas lines. At this time, we anticipate minimal-to-no public disruption as a result of these activities.

We are committed to engaging communities as we develop a more detailed understanding of future years’ work. For a project overview, visit the Inland Gas Upgrades page.  Alternatively, you can contact us by phone at 1-855-576- 7225, or by email at [email protected].

August 6, 2020

Construction to begin on major project

FortisBC is beginning construction for this major project in the Mackenzie, Cranbrook, and Sparwood areas. These upgrades will enhance our ability to carry out proactive maintenance on our infrastructure.

Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2020, and continue through the fall of this year. Most work at this time will be rural and largely take place on existing FortisBC rights of way. There will be a small amount of construction next to highways and other public roads. In these cases area residents may see our traffic control personnel as they work to minimize any potential impacts. Overall, we expect to be in the Mackenzie and Cranbrook areas for approximately three years during seasonal construction windows, and in the Sparwood area over approximately five years during seasonal windows as work moves north within the Elk Valley.

For maps that indicate work site locations this year, see our project overview page.

For the project as a whole, upgrades will occur across 18 communities in the Northern, Cariboo, Thompson-Okanagan, and Kootenay regions of BC. We look forward to keeping communities informed on future upgrades across these regions.

May 27, 2020

Preparation activities in Mackenzie, Cranbrook and Sparwood

We are preparing for our first phase of construction in and around the Mackenzie, Cranbrook, and Sparwood areas this summer. In order to create the space and access needed for our contractors and materials, we will be undertaking some preparation activities. These may include surveying and vegetation clearing; fence and scrap removal; and road access improvements. We are also conducting bird surveys throughout these communities, and are committed to carrying out all work in an environmentally responsible manner. Most of this work will be in rural areas and will take place in June and early July.

With safety at the core of everything we do, we are actively monitoring the developments around COVID-19. If you see our workers or contractors in the field, they are working to ensure that your home and community will continue to receive the energy it depends on safely and reliably, for years to come.

January 21, 2020

Inland Gas Upgrades receive BCUC approval

Today, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to FortisBC to move forward with our Inland Gas Upgrades project. This project will enhance our ability to carry out proactive maintenance on our gas system by enabling the use of in-line inspection technology. Work will occur in 18 communities, from Mackenzie to southern BC and the Kootenays, with the vast majority of work taking place within existing rights of way. This project will ensure our natural gas lines continue to provide safe, reliable service for many years to come.

The first phase of construction is anticipated to begin this year, including work in proximity to Mackenzie, Cranbrook, Sparwood and Elkford. As the project progresses, we will continue to provide updates to the communities where work will occur.

December 17, 2018

Major milestone achieved

After years of planning, assessments and consultation, we’ve submitted an application for approval to our regulator, the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) in December 2018.

This project will represent a significant investment into BC’s natural gas system and we’re pleased to have achieved this major milestone in moving it forward. If approved, we expect work to take place between 2020 and 2024.

Want to know more about the BCUC process and how you can get involved? Find out at bcuc.com.

August 10, 2018

Dig a little, learn a lot

From now until the end of August, you may see crews working on behalf of FortisBC doing survey and small excavation work around our rights of way in several areas of the province, including in Cranbrook, Skookumchuck, Kimberley and Mackenzie.

This work will help us verify details of the lines that will enable us to continue planning the Inland Gas Upgrades project.

It’s an important and regular part of the work we do, every day, to properly and effectively plan all of our construction projects.

If you have any questions, please call our project phone line at 1-855-576-7225 or email us at [email protected].

June 15, 2018

Exploring rights of way for habitat and heritage

Native species, waterways and heritage sites—these are just a few of the reasons we work with certified professionals to explore potential project sites early on, long before any shovel hits the ground. As part of our planning for the proposed Inland Gas Upgrades, from now until the end of June, our consultants are studying our rights of way in rural and back country areas in many interior regions of BC. Qualified environmental professionals and permitted archaeologists are developing site overviews for each gas line. This work is being done in consultation with local Indigenous communities where possible.

If the project is approved by the British Columbia Utilities Commission, this information will determine where further study may be needed, what permits will be required and ensure we handle sensitive areas with care. If you have any questions, please call our project phone line at 1-855-576-7225 or email us at [email protected].

There are currently no events scheduled. Please check back again soon.

Meaningful engagement

Delivering a project successfully requires ongoing and meaningful engagement with technical experts, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, customers and the local community. To stay up-to-date on the project, visit and bookmark our project Updates page or subscribe to our Talking Energy Inland Gas Upgrades newsletter.

Dr. Moro Fajiye and master’s student Nate Dungey check on the native plants in Kenna Cartwright park
(L to R) Dr. Moro Fajiye and master’s student Nate Dungey check on the native plants in one of the three plots of land they’re using for their invasive species study in Kenna Cartwright Park.

Investing in local communities

At FortisBC, we believe serving the community is a privilege. That’s why we're committed to investing in legacy opportunities in the communities where our project work takes place. For example, in Kamloops we have partnered with Thompson Rivers University on an invasive plant species study in Kenna Cartwright Park. When we’re ready to restore our worksites in the park we’ll restore them with native plants. The results of this study will be publicly available to benefit anyone interested in reducing invasive species in the region.

Some of our other community investment initiatives on this project include contributing to the establishment of the Elkford Meeting Place and improving trails and accessibility for the Cranbrook Community Forest.

Three men review documents in a clipboard
(L to R) Shane Gravelle, Intern Field Safety Officer, ProActive Safety, attends an Inland Gas Upgrades project site with Ren Davidson and Jamie Peterson, FortisBC, to ensure workers are following safety rules and regulations.

Supporting local businesses and workers

We want to maximize the benefit of our projects in the community through the creation of local jobs and training opportunities, fair access to contracts for local and Indigenous suppliers and investment in local businesses.

During the first six months of 2022, the Inland Gas Upgrades project spent $9.1 million with 101 BC-based vendors, 22 of which are Indigenous. This includes $3 million spent locally, within the communities where work took place.

Creating pathways for employment is one of the ways we support local communities and workers. Through our involvement in the Indigenous Intern Leadership Program, we established two internship roles for Indigenous graduates to gain real world experience engaging and building relationships with municipalities and local and First Nations communities. We also partnered with Proactive Safety & First Aid to create a safety officer internship for a member of the Ktunaxa nation in the Kootenay region.

Communities where work will take place

Over the course of the project, work will take place across 18 communities in the Northern, Cariboo, Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay regions of BC. To see where we are currently working, visit our project Overview tab.

Kootenays

  • Castlegar
  • Cranbrook
  • Elkford
  • Kimberley
  • Nelson
  • Sparwood
  • Trail

Thompson-Okanagan

  • Armstrong
  • Coldstream
  • Enderby
  • Kamloops
  • Kelowna
  • Salmon Arm
  • Spallumcheen

Cariboo and North

  • Mackenzie
  • Prince George
  • Quesnel
  • Williams Lake

Regulatory process

On January 21, 2020, we received approval of our application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from our regulator the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC).

Additional resources

We’ve been engaging with stakeholders, the local community and Indigenous communities to support the project. Materials related to some of these discussions are available below.