Calgary water repairs ongoing as 16 Avenue NW reopens
Posted Sep 14, 2024 2:40 pm.
Last Updated Sep 15, 2024 3:16 pm.
The City of Calgary says water main repairs are proceeding well and 16 Avenue NW has reopened to vehicle traffic Sunday.
Nancy McKay, the director of water services for the city, says paving on Sites 6-8 being completed led to the reopening and removal of detours on 16 Avenue.
However, there will be some lane closures near 43 Street to accommodate city crews and equipment, as they work on bringing the feeder main back to service.
“We’ll continue to update the public and those directly impact as we get closer to that reopening,” Mackay said.
Once the repairs are complete, the pipe has to be filled and tested, and then the distribution of water throughout the city has to be stabilized. She adds each step takes “some time to complete.”
This comes as Calgary’s water use dropped to 471 million litres on Saturday, down from Friday’s 486 million litres.
Stage 4 water restrictions were reintroduced on Aug. 26 to make way for repairs to the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, which followed a critical break that happened on June 5. The city initially said they expected repairs to be complete by Sep. 23.
With regards to the other repair sites, Mackay says Site 1 needs paving, and Sites 2-3 still need concrete curb and gutter work, which is expected to continue until Monday. Site 4 was completed earlier in the week.
She says 33 Avenue east of 83 Street is expected to open by Tuesday, and no parking signs along 34 Avenue east of 83 Street have been removed, “opening additional access for residential parking.”
Parking signs in the area will be removed as repairs near completion, and concrete pouring on Site 5 was completed Friday night. She says 33 Avenue NW from 83 Street to 87 Street is anticipated to open in the coming week.
On Saturday, Mackay said the city has received feedback from businesses on 16 Avenue, and residents on 33 Avenue, and says the city was able to build its plans to lessen the impact of the work “as much as possible.”
“Thank you for sharing your information with us so we can effectively communicate with you throughout the construction,” Mackay said at the time.
“We will continue to connect with those directly impacted by the construction and share our progress and to begin discussing plans to reinstate both sidewalks driveways and landscaping that have been impacted by the repair work.”
Water restrictions are expected to be lifted ahead of schedule on Sept. 21-22.
