Feeder main repair – Construction updates
The City of Calgary will be completing repair work on three segments of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main beginning October 16, 2024. This work is expected to be complete by late November. Please note all timelines are subject to change. This work will not require any water restrictions because these sections can be isolated while keeping the feeder main running.
Update: November 14, 2024
The City of Calgary is nearing completion of the third phase of the repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main and crews are preparing to return this smaller section of pipe back to service.
As part of returning the Bearspaw South Feeder Main back to service, we will be running water through hydrants for up to one full day next week.
Why is this necessary?
Bringing the feeder main back into service involves three steps: filling, testing and stabilizing.
Running water through hydrants is a part of the filling and testing process and is how crews clear sediment from our drinking water following repairs.
Your drinking water remains safe to drink.
Our crews will be present to monitor progress and take samples as part of water quality testing. Do not be alarmed if you see water flowing into the street. This water will flow into storm drains which are designed to handle this volume of water, and flooding should not occur.
For safety reasons, please keep a respectful distance from workers and allow crews to focus on their work.
Local area impacts
- Temporary traffic detours and parking bans may be required. Please follow all signage.
- Water will be flowing through hydrants for up to one full day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. next week.
You may notice:
A slight and temporary drop in water pressure, and cold water may appear cloudy. This cloudiness, or turbidity, is common after repairs and should pass after regular water use.
A strong chlorine smell for a short period after the feeder main is returned to service. Chlorine levels will be increased during the filling of the feeder main to disinfect it. These levels are within the normal operational range for treating drinking water and your water remains safe to consume.
Any issue with cloudy water should pass after a couple of days of regular water use. Should this problem persist, please contact 311.
Final stages of construction
Work will be complete by the end of the week to reinstate the median at site one along Parkdale Blvd N.W. between 26 St and 27 St N.W. and to reinstate the median at site two on the Memorial Dr. westbound off-ramp that connects to Crowchild Tr. northbound. The sound wall that had been removed to complete this work will be reinstated during the first week of December. Please continue to drive with caution as materials will remain on site until this work is complete. Work at site three, located at Brownsea Dr N.W. at the bottom of the Bev Longstaff Pedestrian Bridge ramp continues to progress and is anticipated to be completed by the end of next week.
Repair locations
Repair Site 1: Parkdale Blvd N.W.
The vehicle and multi-use pathway detours at site one, located along Parkdale Blvd N.W. between 26 St and 27 St N.W., have re-opened. Please note that there will be intermittent eastbound and westbound lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to restore the median on the roadway.
Repair Site 2: Memorial Dr westbound off-ramp connecting to Crowchild Trail northbound
The detour at site two, located on the Memorial Dr. westbound off-ramp that connects to Crowchild Tr. northbound has re-opened. Please continue to drive with caution as materials will remain on site while crews work to reinstate the off-ramp, the median and sound wall that that had been removed to complete the repairs.
As part of the repair work on Site 2, crews will temporarily remove two additional sections of the sound barrier just north of the current site on Thursday, October 31 and will proceed to make a small excavation to expose the pipe to proceed with the planned repair. This will result in some additional traffic noise to nearby homes. This sound barrier will be reinstalled once repairs are complete. (See map below.)
Repair Site 3: Brownsea Dr N.W. at the bottom of the Bev Longstaff Pedestrian Bridge ramp
- Brownsea Dr N.W. will be closed along the southwest section of the road.
- Vehicle access to the back alley north of Brownsea Dr N.W. will be limited to local traffic only.
- Pedestrian and wheeling access to the Bev Longstaff Pedestrian Bridge will remain open, however a temporary ramp will be implemented to detour users away from construction area.
- To gain access to and from the Bev Longstaff Pedestrian Bridge, pedestrian and wheeling traffic will be detoured through the community from Westmount Rd N.W. to 22 St N.W. then to Broadview Rd N.W. to 20 St N.W. and down to Brownsea Dr N.W.
Construction impacts
- Traffic congestion on northbound Crowchild Trail N.W., westbound Memorial Drive N.W., Memorial Drive N.W. northbound off-ramp to northbound Crowchild Trail N.W, and both eastbound and westbound Parkdale Blvd N.W.
- Noise and moderate vibration from equipment
- Dusty conditions
- Use of bright construction spotlights
- Construction vehicles operating on residential roads, including Broadview Rd. N.W., 23 St N.W. and/or 22 St N.W.
- Contractor staging area, including equipment storage and site offices located in green space at east end of Bowness Road, east of 23 St N.W. This green space will be fenced off and closed for the duration of construction.
- Work hours are anticipated to be 6:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. seven days a week.
