The B.C. government has cleared the way for construction to begin on a new year-round ski resort development in the Cariboo Mountains east of Prince George.

Valemount Glacier Destination Resort is a $175 million project led by Oberto Oberti, who designed the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort near Golden and the controversial Jumbo Glacier Resort proposal west of Invermere.

The project includes mountain-top access to elevations of more than 3,000 metres, including the summits of Mount Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Mount Arthur Meighen, Twilight Glacier and Glacier Ridge, creating the largest vertical drop in North America and the third largest in the world. The plan includes year-round glacier skiing and gondola access for alpine sight-seeing.

Jobs Minister Shirley Bond announced Tuesday the government has completed the technical analysis for the gondolas, chairlifts, ski runs and trails, signing a 60-year master development agreement that allows the first phase to begin. The investors plan to open the resort in December 2018.

The full plan includes a base village with residential, hotel and commercial space. The agreement is with the province, the Village of Valemount, Simpcw First Nation and the Fraser-Fort George Regional District.