BC Hydro is making headlines for reasons other than power outages.

 The company announced on Tuesday that it will proceed with the $1.35 billion upgrade project for the John Hart Dam.

 Campbell River Mayor Walter Jakeway says it’s some good news for a town that hasn’t had a lot lately.

 “It means a series of jobs, of long jobs,” Jakeway said. “400 jobs and they are going to last up to five years; it’s the duration of the employment that’s as good as the amount of money. We need some stability and those five years is going to give us that,” added Jakeway.

The project will include replacing the existing three 1.8-kilometre long penstocks with a 2.1-kilometre tunnel through bedrock, constructing a replacement generating station beside the existing station, constructing a replacement water intake at the John Hart Spillway Dam, and building a new water bypass facility.

 BC Hydro's goal is to complete the regulatory process and award the construction contract by the summer of 2013.

The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2018.

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