TransCanada Sanitary Trunk
TransCanada Sanitary Trunk
Enhancing Calgary’s wastewater infrastructure for the future.
Project overview
The TransCanada Sanitary Trunk is a new 8.5 kilometres underground wastewater pipe that will help ensure Calgary, Cochrane and nearby communities have reliable wastewater service as the region grows.
The existing Valley Ridge Sanitary Trunk is nearing capacity as people continue to move to the area. The new pipe will transport wastewater from Cochrane and developing areas along the TransCanada Highway to Calgary's wastewater treatment system.
Benefits
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Supports reliable wastewater service
Helps ensure homes and businesses in northwest Calgary, Cochrane and surrounding communities continue to have reliable wastewater service as the region grows.
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Enables future homes, businesses and community development
By increasing wastewater capacity, the project supports future residential and commercial growth in Calgary and the surrounding region.
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Improves community experience
Helps reduce wastewater-related odours in Valley Ridge, improving the experience for residents and park users.
Project location
Ward: 1, 6
Nearby communities: Valley Ridge, Crestmont and Bowness (Bowdale area)
Latest updates
In June, we installed sections of pipe under the TransCanada Highway using microtunnelling. By the end of July, 70 per cent of total pipe will be installed.
Construction is underway at several locations along the project corridor; there are 26 numbered manholes along the sanitary trunk. Work may not occur in numerical order or at every site at the same time.
Timeline
- Detailed design: September 2023 to December 2024
- Construction: April 2025 to Q4 2026
- Landscaping: Scheduled to be complete by Q4 2027
Project video
Image gallery
Construction
Below is an estimated construction schedule. Please refer to the map to see detailed manhole locations.
| Estimated timeframe | Construction area | Construction details |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated timeframe : July 2026 | Construction area : Manholes 1, 2, and 3 | Construction details : Site preparation |
| Estimated timeframe : July 2026 | Construction area : Manholes 10, 11, | Construction details : Manhole construction |
| Estimated timeframe : July 2026 | Construction area : Manholes 12, 30, and 36 | Construction details : Microtunnelling work |
| Estimated timeframe : July 2026 | Construction area : Manhole 13 | Construction details : Site Preparation |
| Estimated timeframe : July 2026 | Construction area : Manhole 29 | Construction details : Pipe installation is complete. Site being prepared for landscaping. |
| Estimated timeframe : August 2026 | Construction area : Manholes 1, 2, 3 | Construction details : Pipe installation and manhole construction |
| Estimated timeframe : August 2026 | Construction area : Manholes 12, 30, and 36 | Construction details : Microtunnelling work |
| Estimated timeframe : August 2026 | Construction area : Manhole 29 | Construction details : Landscaping |
| Estimated timeframe : August 2026 | Construction area : Manholes 6, 8, 10, 16, 18, 19, 29, 35, 46 | Construction details : Sites are inactive; no construction impacts. |
Construction truck traffic
Truck traffic hours during active construction:
- From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
To see the construction truck routes used during the project, click on a map below:
- Valley Ridge: map 1, map 2
- Bowdale area map
- TransCanada Highway and Stoney Trail: map 1, map 2
Mitigating construction impacts
To reduce impacts on residents, traffic and the environment, more than 85 per cent of the new pipe will be installed using a construction method called microtunnelling. This technique allows crews to install the pipe underground with fewer surface disruptions than traditional open-trench construction.
Keeping the sound barrier in place
Microtunnelling allows us to install the new pipe beneath 16 Avenue N.W. without removing the existing sound barrier, helping minimize noise impacts for nearby residents.
Protecting trees and green space
Microtunnelling lets crews install the pipe underground with less surface disturbance. As a result, trees north of the TransCanada Highway and west of Stoney Trail can remain in place.
How microtunnelling works
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Build a launch shaft
Step 1Crews dig a vertical shaft to access the underground tunnel route.
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Set up tunneling equipment
Step 2Specialized equipment is lowered into the shaft to create the tunnel and install the pipe.
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Install sanitary trunk pipe underground
Step 3The tunneling machine creates the route while sections of pipe are pushed into place behind it until the installation is complete.
Budget and funding
$97.6 million
Frequently asked questions
When will construction begin and how long will it take?
Construction began in Spring 2025 and is expected to be complete in early 2027, with landscaping complete by the end of 2027.
How will I be informed about the construction?
We will share updates on this webpage and send construction notices to nearby residents when work may affect their area.
Will Bowdale Crescent N.W. be closed during construction?
No, Bowdale Crescent N.W. will remain open. We will widening the Bowdale Crescent ramp to allow vehicles access the community.
Why is this new sanitary trunk needed?
The existing sanitary trunk that serves northwest Calgary and Cochrane is nearing capacity. The new TransCanada Sanitary Trunk will help ensure reliable wastewater service and support future growth in the region.
Will the trunk be built all at once or in sections? What would be the timeline if the trunk is built in sections?
Construction is taking place in stages at multiple locations along the project corridor. Work schedules may change as construction progresses. We will provide updates on this webpage as timelines are confirmed.
How large is the new sanitary trunk?
The new sanitary trunk will use pipes that are 1.35 metres and 1.5 metres in diameter.
Will trees be removed?
Some trees along Forzani Way must be removed to allow construction within the utility right-of-way. We will replace the removed trees through The City's tree replacement program to help maintain Calgary's urban tree canopy.
We will also remove invasive caragana shrubs. Once construction is complete, crews will restore disturbed areas and reseed grass where needed.
Are there other construction projects that are coinciding with the TransCanada sanitary trunk project?
Yes. Other nearby projects may affect travel in the area, including:
- Osprey Hill Developments (south of the TransCanada Highway and just east of Stoney Trail
- Greenwich and Upper Greenwich (north of the TransCanada Highway and just east of Stoney Trail)
For more information, please contact the developer on their project websites:
- Osprey Hills: experienceospreyhill.com
- Greenwich: greenwichcalgary.com
- Upper Greenwich: uppergreenwich.com
Contact
Email: transcanadasanitarytrunk@calgary.ca
Contact: 311