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Beltline Downtown Utility Relocation Project (Third-party Shallow Utilities)

ENMAX maintenance hole crane lift at 6 Avenue and 2 Street S.W.

The Beltline Downtown Utility Relocation program involving third-party shallow utilities (fibre, electricity, gas, etc.) began in September 2022 and wrapped up in October 2024. This work was completed by various third-party utility companies, including ENMAX, TELUS, Bell, Zayo, Calgary District Heating, Rogers/Shaw and ATCO Gas.

Calgary Built: The Green Line LRT – Episode 1: ENMAX Maintenance Hole Installation

Green Line wants to take you behind the scenes to the big and small construction projects that are all part of building Calgary’s next LRT line. Have you ever wondered about those circular plates in the road and, even more interesting, what is down there? We break down the installation of a maintenance hole by ENMAX.
Map of Beltline Downtown Utility Relocation work in relation to downtown stations.

Start Date: September 2020
Completion Date: October 2024

Construction partners

Logos of construction partners ENMAX, ATCO, Zayo, Bell, TELUS, Calgary District Heating, Rogers and Shaw

Construction details

Prior to tunnelling and building the stations, we must remove potential utility conflicts, which involves moving the existing underground utilities to other locations. By doing this work now, it makes the tunnelling process quicker and reduces risk to the project.

All shallow utility work, which consists of utilities less than 1.5 metres deep, must be completed by the third-party utility company, as set out in The City of Calgary’s Municipal Rights-of-Way Bylaw.

This work was happening across downtown along the Phase 1 Green Line alignment, from Eau Claire south along 2 Street S.E. to 11 Avenue S.E. and then east along 11 Avenue into Victoria Park.

Construction workers installing duct bank and concrete casing in a maintenance hole in downtown Calgary.
ENMAX maintenance hole duct bank installation and concrete casing.

Underneath the streets of downtown Calgary are all kinds of utility lines, such as water, natural gas, and electricity. Before we could build the Green Line tunnel under the Beltline and Downtown, we needed to relocate existing underground utilities.

This work was a significant investment in infrastructure renewal. New relocated utilities can accommodate increases in population expected in this area in the future. Upgrades in infrastructure included:

  • 1,280 metres of new watermains in Beltline East
  • 1,000 metres of new sanitary pipe in Beltline East
  • 855 metres of new road
  • 670 metres of sidewalk improvements
  • 515 metres of new pathway
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Utility relocation photos

A large crane hoisting up a concrete box to be placed into the maintenance hole.
ENMAX installing part of a maintenance hole.
Construction workers installing duct bank and concrete casing in a maintenance hole in downtown Calgary.
ENMAX maintenance hole duct bank installation and concrete casing.
View from above of the partial constructed maintenance hole.
ENMAX maintenance hole secure work area.
View of the constructed maintenance hole prior to being covered up.
ENMAX maintenance hole installation.