Bearspaw feeder main replacement enters home stretch on schedule, on budget
Work to insert the steel pipe that will move drinking water is a little more than half-finished, with roughly two kilometres of pipe in place.
Calgary officials report that the six-kilometre replacement of the Bearspaw feeder main is nearing completion, having stayed on schedule and within budget since construction began in January. The city has laid about 3.7 kilometres of concrete carrier pipe between Sarcee Trail and the Shaganappi Pump Station, with roughly two kilometres of steel pipe installed to transport drinking water.
The more disruptive work along 34th Avenue in Bowness is now around 40 percent complete. Darren Finney, Calgary’s manager of major projects, stated that the city is mobilizing as many workers as possible to expedite the project, with the microtunnelling contractor bringing in staff from various countries. Bearspaw provides 60 percent of the treated water for Calgary's 1.6 million residents and nearby communities, with the pipe having failed in June 2024 and again in December 2025.
Work is set to conclude in December, with Bearspaw expected to be closed for less than a week in September for electrical work on the new pumping station. Water restrictions may be implemented in mid-October as the new feeder is connected to the existing infrastructure.
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