Construction on the second phase of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main replacement is set to begin this month, as the city works to replace a critical water transmission line that has burst twice in the past two years. The new line, installed below 34th Avenue N.W. between 73rd Street and 89th Street in Bowness, is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Stage B Construction Details
The city announced that work on Stage B of the new parallel pipeline will start Monday at two locations: 83rd Street between 33rd and 34th Avenue N.W., and 77th Street between 33rd and 34th Avenue N.W. Once cross-connection work is complete, construction on the feeder main itself will begin in June 2026, starting at locations between 79th and 80th Street N.W., and between 85th and 86th Street N.W.
Traffic and Community Impacts
Residents in the area should expect traffic impacts, detours, noise, dust, temporary parking restrictions, and short-term access changes during construction. Drivers are encouraged to follow posted detours and exercise extra caution when traveling through residential streets.
Replacing a Critical Water Artery
The new steel line will replace a 50-year-old feeder main that burst unexpectedly below 16th Avenue N.W. on June 5, 2024, and again on Dec. 30, 2025. The Bearspaw South main transports approximately 60 per cent of Calgary's treated water and is the most important artery of the city's water system. Both ruptures plunged Calgary into weeks-long water restrictions.
Since the second rupture, Mayor Jeromy Farkas has repeatedly described the Bearspaw line as "terminally ill" and a "ticking time bomb" that could rupture again at any moment, despite recent reinforcements. He has called the accelerated replacement project Calgary's "moon shot."
Project Timeline and Funding
Work began in January, and the line is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. Earlier this spring, city council unanimously supported a $609-million capital budget adjustment to help pay for water infrastructure upgrades, including the feeder main replacement.
Construction Method
Unlike Stage A, which used microtunneling, Stage B will employ an open-cut construction method. Crews will excavate 34th Avenue within the public right-of-way to install the new pipe. This "cut-and-cover" method involves digging a trench, installing the new line, and backfilling the earth. The city argues that this approach is the fastest way to replace the existing feeder main located one block away under 33rd Avenue.
