Back issues - Of Interest! Date Facts 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.