by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 17/97) - The road to BHP could be completed as early as next week.

The diamond mine 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife is anticipating over 2,000 truck-loads of supplies this winter, said site superintendent Jeff Stibbard.

RTL Robinson Trucking is building the section of the road from the Lupin mine road, near Lac du Savage to BHP's Koala camp.

"Our section, to BHP, is finished," said RTL vice-president Donny Robinson on Wednesday. "Our guys just finished it up in the last few days. He added that snowfall earlier in the week has delayed opening of the road, likely until Monday.

"We figured it was going to be (open) the third week of January, and we're pretty well there," said Stibbard.

"We were hoping we might have got an earlier start, as early as this week, but ultimately Sunday, the 21st, is good for us."

Phil Flaumitsch of Echo Bay Mines said weather makes it difficult to predict when the Lupin road to Lac de Savage would be completed, but added it could be as early as next week.

Last year the first truck-load from Yellowknife arrived at BHP on Jan. 22. The last vehicle came in April 15.

Right now 275 people live in BHP's exploration camp. "Basically we're as full as we can get," said Stibbard. "If we had more space, we would use it."

The plan, he said, is to have the main camp, yet to be built, occupied by April 1.

"Obviously things are going to have to go off like clockwork ... to finish off this camp before the road closes," said Stibbard, adding that allowances have been made for weather delays.

"As well, we're waiting for supplies to get in for the construction that's going to happen over this summer and next year."

Top priority is dormitory modules, the self-contained sleeping quarters that will be home to the construction crew.

The camp complex will include 180 modules. Each has two rooms, with two workers staying in each room during the construction phase.

Added to those who will live in the exploration camp, the site's population is expected to bulge to 920 this summer.

Construction workers will stay at the camp while building the mill, crusher, a power generation plant with the same output as the Jackfish plant, a truck shop and an office complex.

The camp complex will eventually include a gymnasium, squash and racquetball courts, and an indoor track.

Until August, the scheduled completion date of the main camp, the gym will be used as a mud room and drying space.

The camp will have a working life of 25 years.