As Metro Vancouver sinks a new water main down Pipeline Road, officials say they’re working with the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam about yet another major water infrastructure project for the region.
On Monday, Sept. 9, Ross Richardson, a senior engineer with Metro Vancouver water services, said the agency is hoping to get the sign offs soon from the two municipalities on the Haney Water Main #4 project before it moves to its next phase: the three-year detailed design portion.
If approved, the western part of the 5 km water main through Coquitlam and PoCo — of which 1.7 km would be in Coquitlam — would link with the Coquitlam Water Main #4 that’s now under construction along Pipeline Road, between David Avenue and Guildford Way.
It would then head down Ozada Avenue and tunnel under the Coquitlam River before moving to Lincoln Avenue, on the Port Coquitlam side, to:
- Oxford Street
- Westminster Avenue
- Commonwealth Street
- Imperial Avenue
- St. Michael Street
- Robertson Avenue
- Coast Meridian Road
- via potential micro-tunnel
- Thames Crescent
- Lougheed Highway
This is set to help supply additional water to the Barnston Maple Ridge pump station.
Richardson told Coquitlam’s council-in-committee the aim is to meet demand for more drinking water for Metro’s eastern and southeastern areas.
And, like the Coquitlam Water Main #4, the pipe will be five feet in diameter and built to seismic standards; archeological permits will be obtained before work starts in late 2027 or early 2028, Richardson said.
Tunnelling under the Coquitlam River may take up to two years, and Metro staff will reach out to the city, residents and business owners about potential construction impacts such as traffic detours and delays, he said. Metro Vancouver will also coordinate its plans to fit with civic projects.
Coun. Matt Djonlic asked how the Guildford Greenway, which is now being extended to the Lafarge Lake–Douglas SkyTrain station, will be affected as it moves east to improve pedestrian/cycling connections.
Jaime Boan, Coquitlam’s general manager of engineering and public works, said the Guildford Greenway work may be delayed for the water main work.
Couns. Trish Mandewo and Brent Asmundson were not at the committee.
According to a July 2024 report from Marilyn Towill, Metro Vancouver’s general manager of water services, the regional district controls three water supply areas and source reservoirs: Coquitlam, Seymour and Capilano.
The agency has 153 projects in its 2025–29 water services capital plan.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
