7 Street NW and Altawana Drive Deep Utility Replacement
Aging cast iron water mains and clay sanitary mains at the top of Altawana Drive NE are being replaced with new PVC pipe this year.
| Phase | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Intersection of 7 Street NW and Altawana Drive, including the closure of Altawana Drive hill | Completed July 20 |
| Phase 2 | 7 Street NW from Altawana Drive to Tweed Avenue NW | underway |
| Phase 3 | 7 Street NW from Tweed Avenue NW to McCutcheon Drive NW | underway |
| Project completion | Expected November 2024 |
Timing and traffic accommodation
Beginning May 13, 2024, this project is expected to conclude in the fall of 2024.
Altawana Drive hill was closed from May 13 to July 20. Minor localized detours will be in place for motorists in the final two phases. Signage will be in place to indicate these detours.
Medicine Hat Transit
Transit routes 10 and 11 in Crescent Heights have returned to their regular route upon the re-opening of Altawana Drive. Track the location of your bus in real time online at myride.mhtransit.ca.
Go to the Transit page for more details
Benefits
This $4 million project renews the infrastructure along 7 Street NW to ensure reliable water delivery and sanitary sewer service for years to come.
Along with replacing aging pipe, crews will also realign a section of sanitary sewer pipe from under the lane to under the roadway (7 Street NW). This will reduce disruption and allow more efficient and cost-effective repairs when required in the future.
The project also includes the trenchless installation of a steel casing for the water line underneath the existing stone retaining wall along Altawana Drive.
Excavation is expected to be over seven meters deep in places but crews will also employ trenchless technology designed to reduce installation cost and the impact to the neighbourhood.
Strategic collaboration
Two other City departments will coordinate efforts to take advantage of synergies presented during the deep utility replacement.
- Road overlay: With traffic on Altawana Drive NE redirected at the bottom of the hill to avoid the work area at the top in Phase 1, crews milled and repaved the hill while the road was closed, reducing the need for further disruption in the future.
- Low pressure gas line renewal: While the road is excavated, gas distribution crews will replace the low pressure gas line on 7 Street NW.
Notifications
All directly impacted residents and businesses will be notified of construction activities and any related localized outages to their utility systems.
Future updates will be provided here, and on the City’s social media channels.