An open house has been scheduled for later this month to educate New Westminster residents about a massive water infrastructure project.
Metro Vancouver is building a new water supply tunnel called the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel deep under the Fraser River, between New Westminster and the City of Surrey. The timeline is 2020-2024 for the construction.
“The tunnel will be one of five new water supply tunnel crossings in the region built to withstand a major earthquake,” said a news release. “Once complete, the new tunnel will be connected to the region's drinking water system and will help ensure the continued, reliable delivery of clean, safe drinking water in a growing region.”
This project includes:
- Installing a new water main in the Brow of the Hill and Kelvin neighbourhoods in New Westminster
- Building the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel under the Fraser River
- Installing a new water main in the Whalley and Newton neighbourhoods in the City of Surrey
This new water supply tunnel will be excavated deep underground using a tunnel-boring machine. The TBM will launch from a vertical entry shaft on the Surrey side and progress north under the Fraser River to the vertical exit shaft on the New Westminster side.
Once the tunnel is drilled, a steel water main will be installed inside the new tunnel and connected to underground valve chambers at each shaft site, connecting it to the region's drinking water system.
The public is invited to an open house on Jan. 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Anvil Centre.
