Franklin River Road Watermain Replacement

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Start: April 6, 2026

End: July 2026

The City of Port Alberni receives its drinking water from the Bainbridge Water Treatment Plant, located on Franklin River Road. Once treated, the water is pumped into the City via a 4.65 km watermain that has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement.

The existing pipe is constructed from steel and was installed in 1962. The new watermain will be a high-density polyethylene [HDPE] fused pipe located entirely underground and carries an expected lifespan of approximately 100 years.

The area affected by construction begins at the Bainbridge Water Treatment Plant near the intersection of Franklin River Road and Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Road and ends approximately 1.1km north along Franklin River Road.

The Franklin River Road Watermain Replacement project is a critically required upgrade to our underground infrastructure that maintains clean drinking water for our community.


Updates:

March 26, 2026 – The construction start date has been announced.

April 6, 2026 – Construction work begins.


Construction Impacts:

Construction will be active from 7am-7pm, Monday-Friday, starting April 6, 2026 until July 2026.

Expect single lane alternating traffic along Franklin River Road this spring. There will be brief periods of full road closure to allow for equipment movement, and where the watermain crosses the road, with traffic control personnel present to assist drivers with minor delays. Plan ahead.


Dashed line shows area of construction work, near the intersection between Franklin River Road and Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Rd.


Project Benefits:

  • Maintenance of clean drinking water for our community for years to come.
  • Critically required upgrade to our underground infrastructure.
  • The new watermain pipe will be constructed with HDPE fused pipe, which has an expected life of 100 years—much longer the existing steel pipe construction.


Frequently Asked Questions:


Will my water be shut off during construction?

The city of Port Alberni will continue to have access to drinking water throughout construction.

Residents and businesses along Franklin River Road will be given at least 7 days advance notice of any temporary disruption to their water service that may occur.

This project may require the City to implement a temporary water restriction to allow for the new watermain to be connected. The duration of this restriction is expected to be 1-3 days and will be determined at a later date based on water reserve levels. Details and advance notice will be provided to the public if a water restriction is necessary to complete this project.


Does this project have anything to do with the motor vehicle incident in 2023 that damaged our watermain?

In December 2022, the City of Port Alberni began planning work for risk mitigation and future replacement of this watermain based on its age and criticality.

On March 9th, 2023, one of the watermain’s vulnerabilities was exposed when damage was sustained after a truck collided with an above ground pipe bridge section of the main, resulting in approximately 5,000 cubic metres of water loss and forcing the City to implement Stage 3 water restrictions while undergoing repairs.

The repairs completed at the time were temporary in nature and must be upgraded/replaced. The work being undertaken now will replace the section of pipe that was struck in this incident.

Read our press release on this incident here and here.

Who is doing this construction work?

Hazelwood Construction Services Inc. will be completing the work on behalf of the City of Port Alberni.


How much will this project cost?

The work for replacing this watermain has been broken down into four phases. The work being done this summer is phase one. A cost estimate was provided by the engineering consultant at $4,033,000 and was approved by Council in June 2025.

How much will phases 2, 3 and 4 cost?

The three subsequent phases of the project are still under design and development. This staged development allows the project to be funded in a financially sustainable manner without compromising fiscal stability. The current estimate to complete all four phases of this watermain replacement is $17.6 million.


When will phases 2, 3 and 4 begin?

Phase 2 of the project will be placed in the 2026 financial plan for Council consideration, phase 3 in 2031, and phase 4 in 2033. All three phases are subject to Council approval, with construction work dates to be set.


Why is this necessary?

The city of Port Alberni receives its drinking water from the Bainbridge Water Treatment Plant via this watermain. It has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement. In addition, a motor vehicle accident in 2023 required a repair to this section of the watermain. That fix was temporary in nature and could fail at any time.

This is a critical infrastructure replacement to secure our clean drinking water for many years to come.


Who can I contact for further information?

Brandon Donais, Project Manager City of Port Alberni
brandon_donais@portalberni.ca
250-720-2834



Start: April 6, 2026

End: July 2026

The City of Port Alberni receives its drinking water from the Bainbridge Water Treatment Plant, located on Franklin River Road. Once treated, the water is pumped into the City via a 4.65 km watermain that has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement.

The existing pipe is constructed from steel and was installed in 1962. The new watermain will be a high-density polyethylene [HDPE] fused pipe located entirely underground and carries an expected lifespan of approximately 100 years.

The area affected by construction begins at the Bainbridge Water Treatment Plant near the intersection of Franklin River Road and Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Road and ends approximately 1.1km north along Franklin River Road.

The Franklin River Road Watermain Replacement project is a critically required upgrade to our underground infrastructure that maintains clean drinking water for our community.


Updates:

March 26, 2026 – The construction start date has been announced.

April 6, 2026 – Construction work begins.


Construction Impacts:

Construction will be active from 7am-7pm, Monday-Friday, starting April 6, 2026 until July 2026.

Expect single lane alternating traffic along Franklin River Road this spring. There will be brief periods of full road closure to allow for equipment movement, and where the watermain crosses the road, with traffic control personnel present to assist drivers with minor delays. Plan ahead.


Dashed line shows area of construction work, near the intersection between Franklin River Road and Mt. Arrowsmith Ski Rd.


Project Benefits:

  • Maintenance of clean drinking water for our community for years to come.
  • Critically required upgrade to our underground infrastructure.
  • The new watermain pipe will be constructed with HDPE fused pipe, which has an expected life of 100 years—much longer the existing steel pipe construction.


Frequently Asked Questions:


Will my water be shut off during construction?

The city of Port Alberni will continue to have access to drinking water throughout construction.

Residents and businesses along Franklin River Road will be given at least 7 days advance notice of any temporary disruption to their water service that may occur.

This project may require the City to implement a temporary water restriction to allow for the new watermain to be connected. The duration of this restriction is expected to be 1-3 days and will be determined at a later date based on water reserve levels. Details and advance notice will be provided to the public if a water restriction is necessary to complete this project.


Does this project have anything to do with the motor vehicle incident in 2023 that damaged our watermain?

In December 2022, the City of Port Alberni began planning work for risk mitigation and future replacement of this watermain based on its age and criticality.

On March 9th, 2023, one of the watermain’s vulnerabilities was exposed when damage was sustained after a truck collided with an above ground pipe bridge section of the main, resulting in approximately 5,000 cubic metres of water loss and forcing the City to implement Stage 3 water restrictions while undergoing repairs.

The repairs completed at the time were temporary in nature and must be upgraded/replaced. The work being undertaken now will replace the section of pipe that was struck in this incident.

Read our press release on this incident here and here.

Who is doing this construction work?

Hazelwood Construction Services Inc. will be completing the work on behalf of the City of Port Alberni.


How much will this project cost?

The work for replacing this watermain has been broken down into four phases. The work being done this summer is phase one. A cost estimate was provided by the engineering consultant at $4,033,000 and was approved by Council in June 2025.

How much will phases 2, 3 and 4 cost?

The three subsequent phases of the project are still under design and development. This staged development allows the project to be funded in a financially sustainable manner without compromising fiscal stability. The current estimate to complete all four phases of this watermain replacement is $17.6 million.


When will phases 2, 3 and 4 begin?

Phase 2 of the project will be placed in the 2026 financial plan for Council consideration, phase 3 in 2031, and phase 4 in 2033. All three phases are subject to Council approval, with construction work dates to be set.


Why is this necessary?

The city of Port Alberni receives its drinking water from the Bainbridge Water Treatment Plant via this watermain. It has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement. In addition, a motor vehicle accident in 2023 required a repair to this section of the watermain. That fix was temporary in nature and could fail at any time.

This is a critical infrastructure replacement to secure our clean drinking water for many years to come.


Who can I contact for further information?

Brandon Donais, Project Manager City of Port Alberni
brandon_donais@portalberni.ca
250-720-2834



Page last updated: 30 Mar 2026, 03:35 PM