Coaldale’s west sanitary trunk main project getting $1.8M from Ottawa

The federal government is pumping more than $1.8 million into the second phase of Coaldale’s west sanitary trunk main project. (FILE)

The federal government is pumping more than $1.8 million into the second phase of Coaldale’s west sanitary trunk main project.

The southern Alberta town announced Ottawa’s $1,817,500 investment Thursday morning.

According to the town, those dollars will fund the upsizing of the sanitary sewer along 16th Avenue from Highway 845 to 23rd Street.

In a release, the town said the result will be a 600-millimetre sanitary trunk main.

The town said this will “increase wastewater conveyance capacity, improve system efficiency and help reduce the risk of inflow, infiltration and backups.”

Eleanor Olszewski, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, said Coaldale “is growing” and “needs infrastructure that can keep pace.”

“That’s why we’re investing in the wastewater services Coaldale needs to increase capacity for future growth and help make new residential, commercial and industrial development possible,” she said.

Jack Van Rijn, the mayor of Coaldale, said the project will ensure the town “has the infrastructure required to support current residents and future growth.”

“By increasing wastewater capacity along 16th Avenue, we are strengthening an important part of our underground infrastructure while helping prepare the west side of our community for future residential and commercial development,” he said.

Work on the second phase of the west sanitary trunk main project is expected to continue through September, the town said.

The first phase focused on the west side of Highway 845 between 14th and 16th avenues.