NCWSS - Project sites and maps
John Laurie Park and John Laurie Boulevard alignment
John Laurie Park
The NCWSS feedermain starts near the Spyhill West Reservoir located at Edgemont Drive N.W and John Laurie Boulevard N.W. From this location, the feedermain will transition to an alignment in John Laurie Boulevard N.W. and into the southwest corner of Nose Hill Park.
No significant impacts are anticipated, for the recreational spaces in the vicinity. However, temporary pedestrian and/or traffic detours may be required during construction.
Although every reasonable effort will be made to protect trees, there will be a number of removals required within the work area. New trees and landscaping will be planted once the project is complete. Find out more about tree removal and compensation.
John Laurie Boulevard alignment
The NCWSS feedermain follows an alignment along John Laurie Boulevard N.W., from 53 Street N.W. to the southwest corner of Nose Hill Park.
This section will be installed by open trench construction. This work will require rolling lane closures on John Laurie Boulevard N.W., primarily in the southbound lanes. Two-way traffic will be maintained but drivers can expect delays.
The crossing of Shaganappi Trail will be completed using a trenchless method, reducing traffic disruption in that location.
Nose Hill tunnel
A 3.3 km long portion of the route crosses under Nose Hill Park, from the southwest to the northeast, and will be constructed using tunneling, or trenchless technology. Construction is anticipated to start in late 2022.
Tunneling technology is a proven method of installing infrastructure while minimizing impacts to the surface. The tunnel in Nose Hill Park will be built with minimal impacts anticipated outside of the two shaft locations.
The tunnel under Nose Hill Park will range in depth from 10 to 90 metres below the surface.
Construction includes building vertical shafts at the start and finish locations. These shafts are constructed to the depth required for the tunnel machine to proceed horizontally. The tunnel machine proceeds from the Launch Shaft location, toward the Reception Shaft. In this project, the tunnel machine will construct a segmental lining behind itself, as it progresses. This lining forms the casing required to support the surrounding soil and, ultimately, to house the feedermain pipe.
The Launch shaft will be located in the southwest corner of the park and will be onsite for the full duration of construction. The Reception shaft will be located in the northeast corner of the park and will be built concurrent with tunnel construction.
A Biophysical Impact Assessment was conducted at both shaft sites, with identification of plant species present. Following construction, the work areas will be returned to the natural state.
Impacts to public access and pathways in Nose Hill Park will be minimal and isolated to the two shaft sites. All safety precautions will be taken to ensure park users are aware of any pathway closures and detours.
MacEwan Pump Station
The MacEwan Pump Station will be constructed in the Sandstone Area 2 off-leash dog park, a small greenspace at the northeast corner of 14 Street N.W. and Berkshire Boulevard N.W. Currently this space is used as an off-leash dog park. A portion of the park space will be impacted by the new pump station, during construction.
The pump station will provide the pumping capacity needed to deliver water from the NCWSS feedermain to the Big Hill East Reservoir and associated water distribution system in Northwest Calgary.
The building will be approximately 300 square metres in size and will be designed to blend in with the surrounding area.
Approximately 18 trees will be removed from this area. Find out more information about tree removal and compensation.
Project area map
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14 Street N.W. from MacEwan Glen Drive to Symons Valley Pathway
This section of the feedermain alignment will be installed using open trench construction methods.
The work on 14 Street N.W. will require rolling closures of the northbound lanes from MacEwan Glen Drive N.W. to Country Hills Boulevard N.W. and the southbound lanes from Country Hills Boulevard N.W. to Hidden Valley Drive N.W. Two-way traffic will be maintained but drivers can expect delays.
To reduce traffic impact, the crossing of Country Hills Boulevard N.W. will be installed using trenchless construction.
Trenchless methods will also be used along the pathway connecting Hidden Valley Drive N.W. to the Symons Valley pathway.
Work along Symons Valley Pathway will involve open trench construction. The majority of the mature trees along the Symons Valley Pathway will be protected.
Any necessary pathway closures and detours will be communicated in advance of construction activities.
112 Avenue Right-of-Way (ROW)
Open trench construction will be used along the Symons Valley and 112 Avenue Right-of-Ways (ROWs). These areas include pathways. All detours will be communicated in advance of construction activities.
A section of this work will involve construction microtunnelling, a trenchless construction method. By using this method, the impacts to the public, traffic and the environment are significantly reduced.
All safety precautions will be taken to ensure park users are aware of any pathway closures and detours.
Although every reasonable effort will be made to protect trees, there will be a significant number of removals required, within the work area. Find out more about tree removal and compensation.
Crossing of Beddington Trail N.W. and West Nose Creek
The crossing of Beddington Trail N.W. and West Nose Creek will be constructed using the method of microtunnelling, a trenchless technology. This construction method allows the pipe to be installed with reduced impact to the surrounding area and wildlife.
Work in this area will be scheduled to avoid conflict with any sensitive periods in the wildlife corridor and restricted activity periods for fish-bearing waters.
Trenchless Construction Methods
Several sections of this feedermain are being installed using trenchless methods. Examples of such methods include:
- Nose Hill Park – installation by tunnelling method
- Beddington Trail N.W./ West Nose Creek Crossing – single installation by microtunnelling method
- Shaganappi Trail N.W. Crossing – installation by trenchless method, which includes auger boring.
Trenchless technology is a method of installing pipe by constructing two vertical shafts and using a tunneling machine (or auger) to complete the crossing underground. This method of construction allows us to build infrastructure with minimal disruption to the surrounding area.
This project employs several methods of trenchless technology. Each method was chosen to best address the conditions of the specific area and the potential impacts to be mitigated.
Trenchless methods are typically more costly than traditional open cut construction, but they are sometimes a better option to mitigate:
- Significant disruptions to busy roads
- Impacts on constructed or naturalized park areas
- Impacts on wildlife and natural creeks in sensitive areas
- The need to resurface infrastructure, such as roadway and other utilities
Find out more about how trenchless technology works.