The City of Calgary says work on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main replacement project remains on schedule, marking significant progress on one of the city’s most important infrastructure upgrades.
Construction crews have already installed approximately two kilometres of new steel feeder main across 12 active work areas in the communities of Bowness, Montgomery and Parkdale. Once complete, the replacement pipeline will extend for more than six kilometres.
“The first segments of steel pipe arrived on June 18, 2026, and since then crews have been working rapidly to have it installed, making significant progress in just one month,” said Darren Finney, the City of Calgary’s manager of major projects. He added that the commitment of project teams, contractors and local residents has helped keep the project moving forward.
The replacement follows repeated failures of the existing feeder main, a critical piece of infrastructure that supplies treated drinking water to approximately 60% of Calgary. A pipeline rupture in 2024 meant months of water restrictions, and a second rupture in December 2025 prompted another round of conservation measures in the city of 1.6 million people.
To improve the long-term reliability of the water network, the city adopted an accelerated construction plan that includes installing a new parallel steel feeder main matching the size of the existing pipeline. Once fully commissioned, the new line will gradually assume service from the aging infrastructure.
Stage B construction progressing
Stage B construction began in June and continues to advance on schedule.
The city reports that 40 sections of the new steel feeder main have already been installed along three blocks of 34 Avenue N.W. in Bowness.
Construction is being carried out using an open-cut method, with multiple crews working simultaneously along different sections of the corridor. This phased approach allows roads, sidewalks and property access to be restored as work progresses through each area.
Following the completion of the initial installations, access to affected blocks is being reopened while crews continue installing additional pipeline sections, completing utility work and restoring surrounding infrastructure.
Construction along 34 Avenue N.W. is expected to continue through the end of the year.
The City of Calgary selected Graham to deliver the Stage B portion of the project.
Stage A nearing completion
Work on Stage A, which involves microtunnelling, is also progressing according to schedule.
Crews are nearing completion of the underground tunnel and the installation of the concrete carrier pipe that will house the new steel feeder main. City officials expect this phase to be completed within the next month.
To date, more than 1,100 metres of steel feeder main have been installed inside the concrete carrier pipe between the Shaganappi Pump Station and 73 Street N.W.
System connections planned for the fall
The final phase of the project will involve connecting the new pipeline to Calgary’s drinking water system through three separate stages scheduled for this fall.
Preparatory work at the Shaganappi Pump Station is expected to begin in mid-September, followed by pipe tie-in connections starting in mid-October. These connections will require additional open-cut construction at several locations and could result in temporary water restrictions while the work is carried out.
The final commissioning phase is currently planned for mid-November. During this stage, crews will disinfect the new pipeline, fill it with treated water, complete testing and officially transfer service from the existing feeder main to the newly installed system.
Once operational, the new pipeline is expected to significantly improve the reliability and resilience of Calgary’s drinking water network while reducing the risk of future service disruptions.
