The city administration has announced the exact repair locations and approximate locations of the work sites for the repair of the main supply line, which will again impact the water consumption of the entire city.
According to Francois Bouchart, the city’s director of capital priorities and investments, construction will take place along 33rd Avenue NW between 78th and 87th streets NW and at Shouldice Athletic Park.
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“Extensive construction in this area will begin on Monday. Repair work on the main feeder in Shouldice Park will also begin later in the week,” Bouchart said during a press conference on Thursday, adding that the first phases of construction in the area are already underway.
“The work in Shouldice Park will not impact traffic on 16th Avenue. There may be temporary disruptions on Montserrat Drive, which is directly adjacent to the repair site.”
He added that there would be no impact on traffic on 16th Avenue NW until after the September long weekend.
The announcement comes after the city revealed that Bearspaw’s south main supply line – the city’s main artery for transporting treated water – is in urgent need of further repairs after it ruptured on June 5.
Last week, city officials announced that workers would perform the bulk of the repairs – 21 sections of Bearspaw’s southern main line – along 33rd and 16th avenues NW, requiring 16 to 18 excavation sites.
Bouchart told reporters Tuesday that 13 of the 21 pipe segments that will be repaired first are along 33rd Avenue NW.
There are two more repairs to the main feeder line pending, along Parkdale Boulevard NW between 26th and 27th streets and on Broadview Road NW near Crowchild Trail. The city says these repairs will occur after the other 21 repairs.
Water restrictions will be tightened on Monday
Since the June 5 breach, Calgary and surrounding water-dependent areas have faced varying levels of water restrictions this summer, with restrictions changing as crews monitored the water system’s demand and delivery capacity.
Currently, Calgary remains under Level 1 outdoor water restrictions until they are upgraded to Level 4 on Monday, the same day that main water main repairs are scheduled to begin.
The city says restrictions and repairs are expected to last from August 26 to September 23.
The City of Calgary says workers are marking locations where utility lines run underground with different coloured lines on the road. Pink markings indicate the main utility line. (Monty Kruger/CBC)
Bouchart also says the city will hold an information session on Friday just for affected community members.
“Our teams are committed to providing clear and comprehensive information, especially to residents in the 33rd Avenue NW area, as significant impacts are expected in the coming weeks.”
The city says it will provide residents in the repair area with more detailed maps on Friday, showing the exact location of fences, pedestrian access, no-parking zones, temporary parking access and garbage collection stations.
City councillor Sonya Sharp told CBC News on Wednesday that she sympathises with residents of the northwest Calgary community who are frustrated and still have questions.
“It was a little rocky at the beginning,” said Sharp, who represents District 1.
“A lot of information was not given to the voters and residents of this area. So I think we came out a little too early with not a lot of information.”
The councillor expresses hope that Calgary residents can withstand construction and water usage restrictions even after the southern main Bearspaw water supply is closed again on Monday.
“Make sure you continue to support small businesses because it’s going to be difficult to get back in and out of these communities.”
Last week, officials said most of the repair work would be done along 33rd Avenue and 16th Avenue NW and would require 16 to 18 excavation sites. (Monty Kruger/CBC)
