Back issues

Date	Facts
June 2009	Concrete work continues on the penstocks and on Eastmain-1-A powerhouse (Phase 1 concrete work). Dismantling of the temporary shelter at Eastmain-1-A powerhouse. Assembly of the superstructure at the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse service area. Excavation ends at the upstream plug of the temporary by-pass canal at Sarcelle powerhouse. End of construction of the permanent access road to Sarcelle powerhouse. Start-up of the Lemare instream flow release structures in the forebay area. Start-up of the Nemiscau-2 and Ruisseau-Arques instream flow release structures in the tailbay area. Beginning of work at Nemiscau-2 dam and on Ruisseau-Arques dike. Work continues on the Rupert dikes Nearly 25% of the backfill remains to be completed in 2009. Concrete work begins at the Waskaganish drinking water plant.
February 2009	Concrete work continues at Eastmain-1-A powerhouse (phase 1) and the water intake Outsize loads of penstock armouring heading to the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse site Transport of merchantable timber from land clearing in the diversion bays Relocation of 735-kV line towers in the diversion bays at the Rupert jobsite Emplacement of material at the upstream cofferdam of Sarcelle powerhouse Excavation of Sarcelle powerhouse and the bypass canal
December 2008	Concrete work continues at Eastmain-1-A powerhouse (phase 1) Penstock excavation ends at the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse water intake Excavation of Sarcelle powerhouse and the bypass canal Emplacement of material at the upstream cofferdam of Sarcelle powerhouse Installation of temporary winter gates at the transfer tunnel General demobilization for the Holidays Happy Holidays!
October 2008	Construction ends at Nemiscau-1, Lemare and Rupert dams. More than 80% of the transfer tunnel has been excavated. Sarcelle workcamp opens. Overburden excavation begins at Sarcelle powerhouse. Excavation ends at Eastmain-1–A powerhouse’s water intake.
September 2008	Pumping ends at the temporary dike, and excavation of the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse water intake begins. Concrete work begins at Eastmain-1-A powerhouse. Construction of Rupert dam and retaining structures continues.
August 2008	Rock excavation ends at Eastmain-1-A powerhouse. The temporary dike’s enclosure is being pumped to dewater the site of Eastmain-1-A powerhouse’s water intake. Construction begins at Rupert dam. Construction work begins on the Sakami canal.
July 2008	The Rupert spillway is only a few days away from becoming the Rupert River’s diversion route. The water will flow through the structure for a short distance before returning to its bed, allowing construction of the cofferdams to continue, and work on Rupert dam to begin. The 2.9 km of full-face drilling and blasting at the transfer tunnel has ended. Bench excavation to reach the tunnel invert, 10 m lower, is now beginning. Backfill of the temporary dike at Eastmain-1-A powerhouse’s water intake has been completed. Sheet piles are now being inserted. Since the dike does not have a core, the sheet piles will ensure that it is watertight.
April 2008	Diversion of the Nemiscau River through Nemiscau-1 instream flow release structure. Dismantling of the temporary shelter at Rupert spillway. Start of contract to build the temporary dike that will enable excavation of the Eastmain-1-A powerhouse water intake and penstocks to begin.
March 2008	Completion of concrete work at the Nemiscau-1 instream flow release structure.
February 2008	Excavation work resumes at the site of the future Eastmain-1-A powerhouse.
January 2008	Start of transport and delivery of merchantable timber recovered from land-clearing work in the diversion bays in 2007; between 450 and 500 loads of timber are anticipated. Concrete work continues at Rupert spillway.
December 2007	The Direction – Projet de l'Eastmain-1-A–Sarcelle–Rupert wishes you a Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous Year in 2008!
November 2007	End of land-clearing work in the diversion bay section for 2007. Building of a temporary shelter at Rupert spillway so that concrete work can continue in cold weather.
October 2007	Start of full-face blasting of the upstream side of the transfer tunnel. Start of secondary concrete work at Rupert spillway. About a dozen land-clearing contracts are now underway in the diversion bay section.