Bearspaw feeder main replacement enters home stretch on schedule, on budget

Construction on the six-kilometre replacement of the Bearspaw feeder main in Calgary, which began in January, is nearing completion. The project, which is both on schedule and on budget, has seen the laying of approximately 3.7 kilometres of concrete carrier pipe between Sarcee Trail and the Shaganappi Pump Station. More than half of the work involved in inserting the steel pipe that will distribute drinking water is also complete, with roughly two kilometres of pipe now in place.

Along 34th Avenue in Bowness, where construction has been more disruptive, progress stands at about 40%. Darren Finney, Calgary’s manager of major projects, stated that the city plans to deploy as many workers as possible to expedite the process, citing the involvement of a diverse international microtunneling contractor. Bearspaw provides treated water to 1.6 million residents of Calgary, nearby municipalities, and the Tsuut’ina Nation, with the pipeline failing in both June 2024 and December 2025.

The project is expected to be finished in December, with Parkdale Boulevard experiencing some impacts due to proactive maintenance, but overall disruptions are forecast to be minimal. Mayor Jeromy Farkas mentioned that Bearspaw will be closed for a week in September for electrical work on a new pumping station, and Calgarians can anticipate water restrictions around mid-October as the new feeder integrates with existing infrastructure.