The city has begun work on the John Hart Forcemain Replacement Project, which will involve upgrades to the essential infrastructure servicing the north side of the Nechako River.
This will mean possible traffic delays, as a single lane for southbound traffic on the John Hart Bridge will be closed for one week starting Oct. 1. Both southbound lanes will then be closed, with detours in place, for two weeks starting Oct. 9. Residents are encouraged to watch for signs and use caution when driving through the area.
A 2019 inspection of the sanitary forcemain crossing the Nechako on the John Hart Bridge indicated some areas of reduced pipe thickness and deterioriating hanger components, the city reports.
The project will involve installing a permanent bypass line to run under the bridge, which is a complex process. The new pipeline will run about 1,300 metres from lift station PW117 on Richard Road to the intersection of Highway 97 and 5th Avenue where it will tie into the existing line.
The project is expected to be fully completed by late February 2025, with awarded contracts totalling $6,791,978.
Every day, three million litres of wastewater pass through the forcemain, which services the entire north side of the river, including North Nechako and the Hart. Once the new line is installed, the existing line can be isolated and replaced, creating a redundant system in the event of a breakage. The "twinning" of the lines will also increase capacity, allowing for future growth and development.
The city notified residents to avoid a section of the Nechako River beneath the John Hart Bridge due to a sanitary sewer leak in June. A temporary containment unit was installed as city staff worked with the BC Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and Environment Canada to mitigate health risks and environmental impacts.
The leak was caused by aging infrastructure as the pipes were installed in 1977. This underscores the need to act, the city states.
