Calgary’s fast-tracked water main replacement to be done in December

Officials are fast-tracking replacement of Calgary's problematic water main because the old one could burst again.

Work to replace Calgary’s main water line is now expected to be completed by December of this year, more than a year ahead of schedule.

Construction was initially planned to begin in the spring and continue until 2028 to run a parallel water pipe for the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, but an “accelerated” schedule has crews and equipment on-site now with construction starting tomorrow.

“Our council is united in challenging our administration to do in one single year what would otherwise take four years,” said Mayor Jeromy Farkas.

“We are moving mountains to get this done,” he said Thursday morning.

The work will be done in two stages and will see a steel pipe the same size as the existing pipe installed from the Shaganappi Pump Station up to 89 St. N.W. and possibly right to the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant.

Stage A, with construction starting Friday, will run from the Shaganappi Pump Station to 73 St. N.W. on the west side of the river.

“You’ll also see construction equipment out in the community of Bowness, as we’re doing investigations to determine how we are going to deliver that last two kilometers. We need all of that done this year,” said Michael Thompson, the city’s GM of infrastructure services.

Construction staging areas are already full of equipment near Edworthy Park’s north parking lot, at Shouldice Park and along Sarcee Trail near Bonita Cr. N.W.

The steel pipe will run beside the current feeder main, which the mayor has repeatedly referred to as “critically ill” with a possibility the line could rupture again at any moment. Micro-tunnelling will be used to install the new feeder main right under several communities and significant crossings, including 16 Ave. and Sarcee Trail.

The full cost of the replacement work is still being determined, though the mayor has said it’ll be “hundreds of millions” of dollars.

“We are working through what those look like now, as well as acceleration costs. It will cost more to do this faster. So we are pulling that together,” Thompson said.

The accelerated timeline and condensed schedule will also see impacts to the community, including possible water restrictions while tie-in work is completed between the old and new water system.

“There will definitely be disruptions as we deliver this project. We are not sure what that looks like yet, but as we accelerate this, there will be additional disruption and so we apologize to anyone working or living around the areas,” Thompson added.

Detailed designs for Stage B of the project are expected next month.