The company, which has taken environmental considerations into account, anticipates that more than 1,000 people will be working on the project at the peak of construction and while many will be specialist engineers, where possible others will be recruited locally. The pipeline, due for construction in 2007, is the second phase of the National Gas Transmission System reinforcement required to transport natural gas from two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals under construction at Milford Haven in west Wales. Liquefied gas will come into the port in tankers and will be "re-gasified" before entering the national pipeline network. The route of the 184-km long, 48-in diameter, steel pipeline will start at a new compressor site in the Felindre area, heads towards Brecon, and onwards to a new valve compound at Peterstow, to the west of Ross-on-Wye, close to National Grid's existing compressor station. The route then moves east, north of the M50, and ending in the Tirley area. National Grid project manager David Mercer said: "This pipeline is an important addition to the National Gas Transmission System and an essential requirement to provide the UK with reliable and efficient gas supplies. Identifying a suitable route has been an extremely lengthy and complex process. We have carried out a detailed assessment of the route options and worked closely with the statutory environmental consultees. The preferred corridor provides the best balance between environmental impact, land use and construction requirements. As far as possible we avoid areas of population, taking into account environmental, geological, and archaeological features and construction, health and safety considerations. National Grid is committed to minimizing the temporary construction impacts, and to carrying out the highest quality reinstatement on completion of the work." Having identified the preferred corridor, National Grid said it will be working closely with landowners to agree the best route possible, and carrying out a full environmental impact assessment before applying for consent to build the pipeline. To minimize the potential effects of construction, National Grid will use trenchless techniques, such as tunnelling, to cross several major roads and rivers: this will ensure that river beds are undisturbed and that there is minimum effect on the environment. Contractors Nacap Land and Marine Joint Venture and Murphy Pipelines will be constructing the pipeline on behalf of National Grid.