Calgary’s Bearspaw south feeder main needs monitoring, will cause traffic disruptions

A section of the Trans-Canada Highway was closed on Friday night after underground monitoring of the Bearspaw feeder main revealed concerning sounds.

There will be a few traffic disruptions on 16 Avenue N.W. over the weekend due to lane closures caused by the need to monitor the Bearspaw feeder main.

In a Friday media release, the city said it is “taking precautionary measures” around two segments of Bearspaw feeder main pipe that they are aware have “an enhanced level of deterioration.”

They said the segments have experienced “one new wire snap each.”

As a result, a detour has been put in place around the two segments to allow crews to work on them.

The exit ramp to Sarcee Trail on westbound 16 Avenue N.W. will be closed and traffic will be detoured to 29 Avenue N.W.

The detour will remain in place until further notice.

The city is hosting two online and two in-person, drop-in information sessions about the Bearspaw south feeder main improvement programs.

The online sessions are Feb. 24 from 6-7:30 p.m. and Feb. 26 from 12-1:30 p.m.

The in-person sessions are March 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bowness Ratepayers Scout and Guide Hall, at 8551 Bowness Road and then again on March 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Terrace Road School, 2103 46th Street N.W.

Other closures

There are a number of other street closures scheduled for the long weekend.

In the northeast, there’s utility work scheduled at Zoo Road and 12 Street N.E.

In the southeast, the southbound right lane and eastbound at First Street and 17 Ave. S.E. for utility and Hyrdrovac work through Feb. 20.

There are also right lane closures in all directions at the intersection of Memorial Drive and 39 Street S.E. for utility work through Feb. 24.

Utility work is also scheduled for 20 Ave. N.W. between 11 Street and 12 Street N.W. through Tuesday.

Sarcee Trail N.W. at 34 Avenue N.W. will have a speed reduction to 30 km/h due to work on Bearspaw south through Feb. 25.

Ongoing construction of the Sunnyside flood barrier will cause delays along Memorial Drive.

Left lane closures will impact 11 Avenue S.W. at Fourth Street S.W. through Tuesday.

Lane closure on the south side of Sixth Avenue and Second Street S.W. will cause that block to be reduced to two northbound lanes. Also, the east and south crosswalks will be closed 24/7 for Green Line utility work.

On Saturday, the westbound right lane on Fourth Avenue S.W. between Fifth Street and Seventh Street S.W. will be closed for a crane lift.

From noon Saturday until 3 p.m. Sunday, First Street S.W. will be closed between Riverfront Avenue and Third Avenue S.W. Second Avenue S.W. will be closed between First Street S.W. and Centre Street for the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival.