Traffic impacts expected as Calgary begins next phase of feeder main repairs

Calgarians won’t need to deal with water restrictions this time around but there may be some traffic headaches in the future for motorists in the city’s northwest as the next round of feeder main repairs gets underway.

In a release on Wednesday, the City of Calgary says its already starting pre-work at three sites (see below) to begin phase three of repairs on the Bearspaw South feeder main that is expected to last until late November.

Crews started work on Friday, including setting up fencing, median removal, and cutting into pavement. The excavation of the pipe is expected to begin on Oct. 21.

The city expects significant traffic disruptions in and around the three repair sites once construction starts next.

“Phase three of the feeder main repairs are taking place now given the results provided by the pipe diver assessment following the feeder main burst in June,” reads the release. “Performing this work now will help to lower the risk of another unplanned failure in the feeder main.”

Repairs will take place in three locations:

Repair site one: Parkdale Blvd N.W. between 26 St N.W. and 27 St N.W.

• South side of Parkdale Blvd. N.W. will be closed to vehicle traffic between 26 St N.W. and 27 St N.W.
• Vehicles will be detoured to the North side of Parkdale Blvd N.W. with single lane, two-way traffic maintained.
• Vehicle parking along the North side of Parkdale Blvd. N.W. will be removed between 26 St N.W. and 27 St N.W.  
• Regional pathway along the Bow River for both wheeling and pedestrian traffic, will be closed between 27 St N.W. and the crosswalk used to access Kensington Rd N.W.
• Pathway detours come into effect on Thursday, Oct. 17.
• Traffic detours come into effect on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Repair site two: Memorial Drive westbound off-ramp that connects to Crowchild Trail northbound.

• The righthand northbound lane on Crowchild Trail N.W. at the Memorial Dr westbound off-ramp will be closed to facilitate the feeder main repair.
• the Memorial Dr. off-ramp to Crowchild Trail will be open but will have a temporary configuration in place.  Vehicle speed on Crowchild Trail N.W. will be reduced to 50 km/h.
• Access to the repair site will be provided through the residential community located directly east of Crowchild Trail N.W. via 23 Street N.W. and Broadview Rd N.W.
• Sections of the sound barrier panels adjacent to the Memorial Drive N.W. off-ramp and Crowchild Trail N.W. will be removed to provide access to construction equipment and personnel.
• The local pathway along the sound barrier wall will be closed from Westmount Rd. N.W. to 21 St N.W.
• Pedestrian and wheeling traffic will be detoured through the community along Westmount Rd N.W. to 22 St N.W.
• Parking on the south side of the Broadview Road N.W. and along west side of 23 Street N.W. will be removed to ensure equipment can access the repair location.
• Pathway detours come into effect on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
• Traffic detours come into effect on Sunday, Oct. 20.

Repair site three: Brownsea Drive N.W. at the bottom of the Bev Longstaff West Hillhurst Pedestrian Bridge

• 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 West Hillhurst 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.
• Pathway detours in effect on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Increased congestion is expected along Crowchild Trail NW, Memorial Drive NW, and Parkdale Blvd NW during the duration of the construction.