Drivers might want to avoid 2nd Street West through downtown Drumheller this coming week as the downtown cast iron replacement program may cause a traffic snarl.
The project to replace aging cast iron water pipes in downtown Drumheller to improve water quality and stability has progressed throughout the summer.
This week crews will be working on a stretch crossing 2nd Street between the Valley Plaza and the alley behind the former Rising Star Restaurant. To do this, two lanes of traffic will be blocked to complete the work.
Jason Knibb of Knibb Developments, contractor for the project, explains crews will be working on a stretch of pipeline that goes approximately from the west side of Valley Plaza to Centre Street through the back alley. They will be using a process called pipe bursting, where a new six inch high density polyethylene pipe is pulled through the existing cast pipe, shattering it in the process.
3D Pipe Bursting of Millet has been hired to lay the pipe.
This process causes less disturbance, however there needs to be excavation at spots where there are valves, or tie ins.
There is a tie-in in the southbound lane in front of the entrance to the Valley Plaza parking lot where there needs to be excavation.
To facilitate this, the two southbound lanes will blocked and traffic will be limited to one lane each for northbound and southbound traffic.
“We’re shooting to have it completed in one week,” said Knibb.
This year the cast iron replacement program will replace the above described line. It will also head from this line, north along Centre Street to the alley north of the Napier Theatre, and then head east to near the Telus building.
Knibb adds that time is of the essence as many of the customers in downtown Drumheller are currently serviced by above ground service and if the project progresses into the fall season there is a risk of frost damaging the lines.
