Inglewood sanitary trunk project

About this project

When water runs down a sink, drain or toilet, it becomes wastewater. To manage this wastewater, sanitary trunks are constructed to deliver wastewater to one of three wastewater treatment plants. The existing sanitary trunk that carries sanitary flow from North Calgary, Airdrie and Cochrane to the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant is nearing capacity.

The IST Phase Two project will increase the waster capacity of Inglewood and other north Calgary communities; it involves micro-tunneling beneath the Bow River to connect two existing sanitary pipes. This new trunk is critical to maintaining a high-level of sanitary service to Inglewood and surrounding communities.

Project route and timeline

What is the route for the Inglewood Sanitary Trunk?

This essential work will connect two existing trunks on the north and south side of the Bow River by constructing a new sanitary trunk. This will allow us to maintain a high level of sanitary service to Inglewood and surrounding communities. The duration of the project will be 1.5 years, depending on weather and site constraints.

Most construction will happen between 7a.m. and 7p.m. The exception is microtunnelling, which may take place 24 hours a day. During construction you will experience increased construction traffic, light and noise. Pathway and road detours will be provided for all closures. Closures may change as construction progresses.

Click on image to enlarge and view microtunnelling route.

What is microtunnelling?

Microtunnelling is a method of installing utilities by digging shafts and then connecting them by underground pipes rather than digging large trenches. This allows us to install the pipe with fewer disruptions to traffic and community access.

Tree removal, replanting & repurposing

For project work, trees were removed on the North and South side of Bow River. We are working closely with City Parks to develop a remediation plan to replant new trees or repurpose trees that are removed.

Trees removed for the project will continue to play a role in the life of our community.

Some removed trees have been repurposed as benches at the City’s Greenview Area Improvements Project to rest, ponder and enjoy the bustling scene on the North side of the Bow River. This demonstrates the City’s commitment to strong community connections and thoughtful stewardship of natural resources. Removed trees and shrubs have also been sent to the Calgary Zoo for food for the animals or used in exhibits.

Construction progress

All work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Saturday unless otherwise noted below or if complications arise during microtunnelling, then will work 24 hours per day.

Completed work

Spring 2019 to Fall 2020 - Phase One

Construction of shafts 1 – 8
Installation of all sections of the trunk
Inner city tie in work at shaft 1

Spring 2021 – Construction - Phase One

Landscape maintenance and deficiency work

Fall 2022 – Detailed Design - Phase Two

Confirm engineering designs
Confirm size of work areas and tree removals

Early Fall 2023 – Construction Tendering – Phase Two

Selection of contractor
Confirmation of construction sites and sequencing

Future work

Late Fall 2023 to Summer 2025 – Phase Two

Construction start

Summer 2025 – Commissioning Phase Two

Commissioning of wastewater line

Location	Construction activity	Impacts	Anticipated schedule	Status
Inglewood / Bow River South - 7 Avenue S.E. between 8 Street S.E. and 10 Street S.E.	Bow River Pathway Detour	Closure of Bow River pathway from 8 Street S.E. to 10 12 Street S.E. Detour is along 8 Avenue S.E.	December 2023 to end of July 2025
	Site Set Up	Noise and dust from tree removals and equipment deliveries	December 2023	Activity Completed
	1 Way Traffic 7 Avenue S.E.	7 Avenue S.E. is down to one lane only with 1 way traffic flow from east to west	January 2024 to end of July 2025
	Shaft Construction which includes secant piling using drilling rig	Noise from drilling, concrete deliveries, trucks hauling material off site	January 2024 to middle of March 2024	Activity Completed
	Shaft Construction which includes excavation of material	Noise from excavator, concrete deliveries, trucks hauling material off site	Middle of March to end of April 2024	Activity Completed
	Installation of Sound Wall within 7 Avenue S.E.	Noise from equipment used to place concrete blocks within 7 Avenue SE from 9 Street SE westwards through alley	Middle of April 2024 for 1 week	Activity Completed
	Microtunnelling	Noise from microtunnelling equipment, noise and vibrations from material separation plant, pipe deliveries, trucks hauling material off site	Early May to end October 2024	Activity Completed
	Sanitary Trunk Pipe and Siphon Installation	Noise from separation plant take down, pipe deliveries and trucks hauling material offsite	Early November 2024 to end of February 2025	Activity Completed
	Site Reclamation and Landscaping	Noise and dust from removal of top 1m of concrete shaft, backfilling, work site clean up and plantings	March to end of July 2025
	Removal of temporary water line	Crews will be onsite at the northeast corner of 8 Ave and 9 St S.E. to removal the temporary water line that had previously been installed as part of phase two of this work. The line is underground in the 9 St S.E. alley and runs across 7 Ave S.E.	Spring 2025
	Removal of temporary power source	Crews will be onsite at the northeast corner of 8 Ave and 9 St S.E. to removal the temporary water line that had previously been installed as part of phase two of this work. The line is underground in the 9 St S.E. alley and runs across 7 Ave S.E.	Spring 2025
Bridgeland / Bow River North - Memorial Drive Eastbound at Baines Bridge / Calgary Zoo exit	Bow River Pathway Detour	Closure of Bow River pathway along Memorial Drive from west end of St. Patrick's Island to Baines Bridge. Detour is through St. Patrick's Island.	January 2024 to end of July 2025
	Site Set Up	Noise and dust from tree removals and equipment deliveries	January 2024	Activity Completed
	Memorial Drive Eastbound Speed Reduction	Speed reduced to 50 km/hr through construction zone	January 2024 to July 2025
	Shaft Construction which includes secant piling using drilling rig	Construction activity from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Saturday. Impacts include noise from drilling, concrete deliveries, trucks hauling material off site	February to middle of April 2024	Activity Completed
	Shaft Construction which includes excavation of material	Construction activity from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Saturday Impacts include noise from excavator, concrete deliveries, trucks hauling material off site	Middle of April to end of May	Activity Completed
	Sanitary Trunk Pipe and Siphon Installation	Microtunnel retrieval, installation of pipe, trucks hauling material offsite	Early November 2024 to end of February 2025	Activity Completed
	Memorial Drive Eastbound	2 Lanes of Traffic along Memorial and speed reduction Use of flaggers to bring in equipment during non-peak times	Early February to July 2025
	Paving and Concrete Rehabilitation of Memorial Drive Eastbound	Rotating lane closures during non-peak times, noise and odour from paving and concrete	2 Weeks in June 2025
	Site Reclamation and Landscaping	Noise and dust from removal of top 1m of concrete shaft, backfilling, work site clean up and plantings	July 2025
Inglewood / Bow River South - 8 Avenue S.E. and 9 Street S.E.	Intersection closure	No through traffic at 8 Avenue S.E. and 9 Street S.E. intersection Noise, dust and odour for opening connection to IST Phase One and paving	Early October to end of December 2024	Activity Completed
	Intersection Closure	No through traffic at 8 Avenue S.E. and 8 St S.E. Noise and dust to remove roof slabs, repair the existing liner inside of the large sanitary chamber and reinstate and repave the road.	End of April – Early June 2025

Project background

View the Inglewood Sanitary trunk background below or download the PDF version.

Project description

When water runs down a sink, drain or toilet, it becomes wastewater. The current sanitary trunk servicing Inglewood and Ramsay that carries wastewater to treatment plants is nearing capacity.

The Inglewood Sanitary Trunk project will add 4km of sanitary pipe to meet growing wastewater needs. This is critical to maintaining a high level of sanitary service in Inglewood, Ramsay, and surrounding communities.

Phase One of the Inglewood Sanitary Trunk (IST) was completed in November 2020. It connects the Inner City Trunk in North Ingle- wood to the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant (BBWWTP).

Phase Two of the project will build a new sanitary trunk to connect two existing trunks on the north and south side of the Bow River. When IST Phase One and Two are complete, it will serve a growing population in Calgary’s north neighbourhoods to 2076.

Construction methods

A microtunnelling method will be used for this work. Microtunneling is very precise and less disruptive to the community and the environment than traditional construction, which requires land to be dug up, removed, and replaced once work is complete.

We will also construct two shafts east of the Elbow River, and set up a construction staging area on the south side of the Bow River (7 Avenue and 9 Street S.E. intersection). A small staging area will also be set up on the north side of the river.

Tree removal and remediation

Trees will be removed on the south side of the Bow River (December 2023) and north side (January 2024).

Trees removed for the project continue to play a role in the life of our community.

Some removed trees have been repurposed at the Greenview Area Improvements Project for residents to sit, ponder and enjoy the bustling scene on the North side of the Bow River. The City is committed to strong community connections and thoughtful stewardship of natural resources.

Tree removals happen outside the nesting window so birds and species are not disturbed.

Construction impacts

Construction will begin December 2023 with tree removals and site set-up on the south side of Bow River. Most activity will happen between 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Microtunneling will not occur 24 hours a day unless required due to ground conditions.

Area residents may temporarily experience increased noise and vibration, as well as increased construction traffic and noise. We are working closely with our contractor to mitigate these effects wherever possible.

Pathway and road detours will be provided for all closures. Closures may change as the project progresses

Anticipated closures

9 St S.E, and 8 Ave S.E. intersection.
August - September 2024

3 separate, phased detours eastbound Memorial Drive, west of Baines Bridge.
February 2024 - July 2025

Anticipated pathway closures

Detours will be provided for all pathway closures.

Closures may change as the project progresses. We will continue to share information with your community as timelines are confirmed.

Bow River pathway between 8th and 9th St S.E.
December 2023 - July 2025

Bow River pathway between St. Patrick’s Island and Baines Bridge.
January 2024 - July 2025

Tree removal and remediation plan

Trees removed for the project will continue to play a role in the life of our community.

Some removed trees will be repurposed as horizontal seating at the Greenview Area Improvements Project for residents to sit, ponder and enjoy the bustling scene on the North side of the Bow River. This demonstrates the City’s commitment to strong community connections and thoughtful stewardship of natural resources.

Removing a tree is a last resort. Some trees must be removed so work can be done safely and efficiently. We have adjusted our work so we can save trees wherever possible.

We will continue to share information with your community as these timelines are confirmed.

This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically.