The Fraser River Forcemain Project reached a major milestone with crews pulling one kilometre of new sewer pipe from Abbotsford into Mission.

The new 900mm diameter steel sewer forcemain pipe replaces the original 600mm diameter pipe constructed in 1982, and will ensure Mission has the increased capacity and much-needed redundancy to meet the needs of the city as it grows.

“We should celebrate this milestone in the forcemain project,” said Mayor Paul Horn. “Our team and community have invested a great deal of time and resources in this project and it will soon be underground and out of sight. After so many years of planning and preparation, this moment deserves to be celebrated.”

The project is set to complete on time, with the scheduled completion date set in April.

Now that the pipe is in place, upcoming work includes pressure testing, connecting both sides, backfilling, completing the final switchovers on the Mission-side, and cleanup and site restoration.

Protection of the Fraser River environment and ecosystem has been the city’s number one priority throughout this project, and work has been completed with strict adherence to the best practices specified by the provincial and federal governments to protect fish, wildlife, and the natural environment.

“This milestone marks the culmination of a large team of very talented professionals working together to achieve one of North America’s largest and longest dredge, drag, and cover pipe pulls while adhering to some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the world,” said Jay Jackman, manager of Development Engineering, Projects & Design.

The Fraser River Forcemain Project is funded in part through a partnership with the federal and provincial government through the Clean Water & Wastewater Fund (CWWF). Fraser River Pile & Dredge is the contractor.