BF,

RR could be one option for hauling stuff up, and it could be done as the RR is being built from the south from Nakina to the North (Keep on extending the line with supplies coming up from the line that has just been built, just like the Chinese is currently doing with its automated rail laying system, or as in "Hell on Wheel"? (at least, that what I recall seeing on one or two episodes...my memory could be completely faulty. In principle, this can be done, but better check with RR experts). This would be a systematic way of building an RR (and other things like pipeline, power transmission line) but it could take more time than other options below.

Construction could also be done from both directions, i.e. from the south and from the midpoint around Marten Falls by hauling the supplies and heavy equipment up by the Nakina-Maten Falls ice road. From this mid point, Team 2 can build toward the south to meet with Team 1 from Nakina. At the same time, Team 3 can head north to the RoF (Note that Marten Falls FN was proposing an ice road from Marten Falls to the RoF to complete the ice road from Nakina area to the RoF, so supplies and heavy equipment could be transported via this ice road).

In summary, once the political will has been in place there are many more variations for the RR experts to figure out their best options. This is not rocket science, and the engineers will find the way.

There would be a lot of savings (time and money) if the building is done with a master plan discussed below

1. The framework: Political alignment (Ont, FN, Fed). They need to agree among theselves, pronto, no more foot dragging or bickering.

2. Money: Money commitment from deep pocket, Ont and Fed fundings for infrastructure, public money raised through Fed (preferably) Port Authority. In essence, money is not a problem, since $1,2, or 3 billion is not a big sum (Wynne already promised $1B and expecting another $1B matching funding from the Fed), but investors would need to see a stable political framework in place first before they would feel confortable placing their money (another $B, or more?) on the table.

3. Building: Start building the entire infrastructure (RR, service road, slurry pipes, transmission line, at least get some preparation like foundations for the towers done, at the same time, while NOT and KWG (and others, but we can safely write off Cliffs) get busy with the building their Ni and chromite mines.

goldhunter