Bearspaw South Feeder Main Replacement Microtunneling Complete

The City of Calgary announces that Stage A microtunneling of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main Replacement Project is now complete. The City made the announcement Aug. 26 and notes that the project continues to advance on schedule.

“The completion of Stage A microtunneling is a significant step forward for the project,” says Darren Finney, manager, major projects. “This complex work involved tunneling beneath major infrastructure, minimizing impacts on the community. With the concrete carrier pipe now in place, we will continue installing the new steel feeder main, preparing for the critical system connection work planned for the Fall.”

Stage A Construction Update

Construction on Stage A of the new Bearspaw South Feeder Main began in January using microtunnelling. Stage A construction has now completed approximately 3.7 km of microtunnelling and the full installation of the concrete carrier pipe. The section runs from the Shaganappi Pump Station to 73 Street N.W. Installation of the new steel feeder main remains on schedule. There is more than 2 km of pipe installed inside the carrier pipe.

Stage B Construction Update

To accelerate the completion of the project, the City of Calgary broke the replacement into two stage. Stage B is an open-cut section that began in June and remains on schedule. More than 1 km of the new steel feeder main is in the ground. That means that 40 per cent of Stage B feeder main installation now complete.

Looking Ahead

In mid-October the Bearspaw South Feeder Main will need to be shut down. This is to faccilitate the connection of the new feeder main to the existing system. Work on improving Calgary’s drinking water system will begin in September with three phases.

Work at the Shaganappi pump station to connect it to the new feeder main is estimated to begin in September. In addition, unrelated work for the new North Calgary Water Servicing feeder main will mean the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant will need to be temporarily shut down in mid-September.

There may be a need for temporary outdoor water restrictions, but it will depend on the weather and water demand at that time. Teams are continuing to assess conditions and will make a final decision on restrictions closer to the start of work.

Pipe tie-in connections are estimated to begin in mid-October at various locations along the new feeder main pipe and include open-cut construction similar to ongoing Stage B construction. Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions and indoor water conservation will be required during this time.

Feeder main commissioning is estimated to begin in mid-November. This will include disinfecting the pipe, filling it with water and taking the existing feeder main out of service. No restrictions are anticipated during this time.

These estimated date ranges are subject to change based on construction timelines and project logistics.

Parkdale Boulevard Repairs

While the feeder main is shut down, The City will complete six additional repairs on the feeder main. Work will take place between the Shaganappi Pump Station and the Memorial Pump Station along Parkdale Boulevard and Memorial Drive N.W.

Recent condition assessments identified six locations on the 1,500 mm section of the Bearspaw South Feeder main that require proactive repairs. While the 1,500 mm and the 1,950 mm pipe, which is currently being replaced, are both part of the same feeder main, they are separate sections with different condition profiles.

Assessments of the 1,500 mm section show it remains in good overall condition and does not require replacement. Instead, targeted repairs at specific locations will help maintain the pipe’s long-term reliability. Completing this work while the feeder main is already out of service for planned connection work is the most efficient approach and helps reduce future risk and disruption.

The repairs will involve 24/7 construction, excavating six locations, removing sections of pipe and replacing them with new steel segments.

For project information and construction updates, visit calgary.ca/bearspawfeedermain.

SOURCE – City of Calgary

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