Bellevue water project faces rising costs

Unexpected underground conditions have pushed the Bellevue water-main project behind schedule and could send its final cost significantly over its $2.825-million budget.

Patrick Thomas, chief administrative officer for the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, said crews have encountered rock outcroppings and soil conditions unsuitable for directional drilling while installing a second water supply line to South Bellevue.

The conditions were not identified by the geotechnical drilling completed during the project’s design.

“The project is behind schedule some due to rock and pit-run materials that have been encountered,” Thomas said. “The project is also projected to be significantly over budget if ground conditions continue that require open-cut excavation instead of directional drilling.”

Thomas did not provide a revised anticipated completion cost.

Construction began July 27 and is expected to be fully completed this fall, including road, sidewalk and landscaping restoration.

The project’s approved budget includes $1.5 million from a borrowing bylaw, $425,000 from the 2026 mill rate bylaw, $400,000 from the Water Utility Reserve and $500,000 from the Mill Rate Stabilization Reserve.

The work begins at 212th Street and follows 27th Avenue to 215th Street before continuing to 28th Avenue and 216th Street. From there, the route follows 28th Avenue to an undeveloped road allowance and continues through the road allowance to Mohawk Meadows at 214th Street.

The project then stops before resuming at 222nd Street and 30th Avenue, continuing along 30th Avenue to 227th Street.

A future section is needed along 30th Avenue between 214th and 222nd streets, but that portion is awaiting historical resource approvals.

Residents have experienced repeated water shutoffs during construction, primarily while crews install new valves at the connection points for the new water main. Each shutdown has affected a different area, with the largest affecting all of South Bellevue.

The province requested a boil-water advisory following the recent large shutdown, but Thomas said testing did not identify any water-quality concerns.

Some additional short-term shutdowns may be required as crews complete tie-in work.

Residents should also expect a significant closure on 27th Avenue between 213th and 215th streets. Thomas said the closure will require motorists to use Highway 3.

Other localized disruptions may affect traffic depending on where crews are working.

Once completed, the second supply line is expected to improve fire flow while providing more consistent water pressure and volume. It will also mean South Bellevue is no longer dependent on a single supply line.

The new line and additional valves will allow smaller sections of the system to be isolated when future repairs are required, reducing the likelihood that large areas will lose water service during repair work.

Southeast Blairmore is the next major area slated for water-main replacement or upgrades. Thomas said that work is intended to strengthen fire flow through the area.