The multi-billion project would see bitumen shipped from the Fort McMurray area to the American State, providing an alternative route to tide waters.

The railway is expected to transport on average between one million and 1.5 million barrels of oil per day.

Consultant for Alberta to Alaska Railway Development Corp. Mead Treadwell tells Mix News the project is early in its permitting process, first looking for a Presidential Permit from Donald Trump.

This permit is needed for projects that go across the U.S. border.

He says there’s no timeline on when it will be approved.

A2A is also planning a trip to Edmonton in the next week to begin the permitting process in Canada.

There’s no timeline on when construction could start but is expected to get underway shortly after all permits are in order.

Work is anticipated to take around three years to complete before the railway can begin shipping bitumen.