City officials announced that the first stage of construction to replace the Bearspaw South feeder main is now halfway complete, with the second stage having commenced in May.
Stage A Progress
The City of Calgary shared an update on Monday indicating that Stage A construction has reached 51 per cent completion. Crews are employing a two-pass microtunneling technique, which involves first lining the tunnel with a concrete carrier pipe before installing the new main steel pipe. Installation of the carrier pipe is currently 55 per cent finished, according to the update.
Work on additional microtunnelling shafts at key locations—including 16th Avenue N.W. and 44th Street N.W., 16th Avenue N.W. and Home Road, and near Sarcee Trail N.W. and 29th Avenue N.W.—remains on schedule.
Stage B Underway
Stage B construction began in May. Crews have completed preliminary work at 77th Street N.W. and 83rd Street N.W., between 33rd and 34th avenues N.W., which connects the new feeder main to the existing water system. The affected roads have been repaved and reopened to traffic.
Starting this week, construction will begin on two sections of 34th Avenue N.W.—between 79th and 80th streets N.W. and between 85th and 86th streets N.W.—as work on the new feeder main continues. The project will proceed one block at a time, allowing completed sections of roadway to be restored and reopened as construction advances.
Timeline and Materials
“Both Stage A and B of the project remain on track to have the new feeder main operational by the end of 2026,” said Darren Finney, manager of major projects, in the update. “Our teams and our contractors continue to optimize logistics and advance construction to support safety, schedule and quality every step of the way while delivering this critical project for Calgarians.”
Steel pipe is expected to begin arriving in Calgary within one week and will be installed quickly in open-cut trenches. Additional pipe will continue to arrive over the coming weeks, with crews installing it as it arrives for both Stage A and Stage B of the project.
More updates are expected as construction progresses.
