Anyone driving past Crowsnest Lake in the past few weeks will have noticed plenty of work and construction taking place along the shore. The project is the culmination of a process begun last year by ATCO Pipelines, to upgrade and move the line that services the west side of the lake.
Currently the pipeline that runs to the west side of the lake is tucked up against the railway bed along the north shore, just under the water. However, the integrity of the line has been threatened by falling rocks over the year, prompting ATCO to plan a project that would move the small pipeline into the middle of the lake.
The new pipe will be a three-inch pipe with concrete coating to protect it.

The project will see the pipe constructed on shore, dragged out and connected on the lake, and then sunk to the bottom along a path designed to avoid rocky areas.
Scott Arndt, V.P. Operations with ATCO Pipelines, says that all of the approvals for the project were in place by late August, and that they received a pipeline permit in early September.
"We think by mid-October we should have the new pipeline installed," says Arndt. "We've taken a lot of care and concern when designing the project, and as we've proceeded."
This concern has manifested in several self-initiated work stoppages by ATCO, prompted by drilling issues.
... for the full story, see the October 6 issue of the Pass Herald.