| Project activities | Project activities | <div class="ExternalClass8884ACDA712E4DC69AF2B0B309C5D23F"><p>The Annacis Water Supply Tunnel has two project sites:</p><ol><li>
<strong>New Westminster:</strong> Located on 11th Street, between Auckland Street and Royal Avenue. Activities at this site will take place from 2023 to 2028.<br></li><li>
<strong>Surrey:</strong> Located at Grace Road, east of the Highway 17. Construction in Surrey will take place from mid-2022 to 2028.<br></li></ol><p>Main construction activities will include:<br></p><ul><li>
<strong>Site preparation:</strong> Our
contractor installed temporary
fencing around the site
to ensure safety of crews,
pedestrians, and cyclists. We
also delivered construction
trailers, materials, and heavy
equipment such as excavators
and loaders to the site. </li><li>
<strong>Shaft construction</strong>: Once site
preparation was completed,
crews installed a retention wall and excavated a 60-metre-deep shaft. It was used as the exit for the tunnel
boring machine.</li><li>
<strong>Tunnelling:</strong> After the shaft was built, we excavated a 2.3-kilometre-long tunnel deep under the Fraser River
using a tunnel boring machine. The machine was launched from the entry shaft located in Surrey and removed
from the exit shaft in New Westminster. </li><li>
<strong>Water main installation:</strong> Once the tunnel is complete, the contractor will install a 2.6-metre-diameter steel water
main inside the new tunnel.</li><li>
<strong>Valve chamber construction: </strong>When water main installation is underway, crews will construct an underground valve
chamber near the shaft. This activity will require specialized crews to install the pipe connections, valves, and other
electrical equipment used to regulate water flow and isolate sections of the distribution system. </li><li>
<strong>Water main connection: </strong>This activity will happen towards the end of construction. Metro Vancouver will connect the new water supply tunnel through two local water mains to the existing drinking water system: <a href="http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/water/projects-initiatives/construction-projects/annacis-water-main-south/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration-line:underline;">Annacis Water Main South</a> in Surrey and <a href="/services/water/annacis-water-main-north">Annacis Water Main North</a> in New Westminster.<br></li></ul><p>Once the construction phase is complete, we will restore the projects sites to better or equal condition. Please read the section “Restoration Plans” for more details.</p><br></div> |
| Restoration plans | Restoration plans | <div class="ExternalClassD2C0EC8AFE6040EAABA359F8AAF7AEB0"><p><strong>New Westminster (North Shaft Site)</strong></p><p>Once the construction is complete, Metro Vancouver will restore the roads to previous or better condition, and turn the project site into an open space for the community to enjoy.</p><p>We are integrating input from the local community, the City of New Westminster, as well as local First Nations into the design. It will include drought-resistant native plants and trees, and interpretive elements that help educate people about the drinking water infrastructure hidden deep underground.</p><p><strong>Surrey (South Shaft Site)</strong></p><p>Once construction is complete, Metro Vancouver will work with City of Surrey to ensure the site is restored in line with sustainable practices to support the area’s biodiversity and ecological health.</p><p>We will replant a mix of different types of trees and shrubs, such as Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, and Salmonberry. Any roadways impacted by this project will be restored to similar or better condition.<br></p><br></div> |
| Work hours | Work hours | <div class="ExternalClass7610A3790C3A44ABBB504C44223A0BB9"><p>All work will comply with bylaws or granted bylaw variances. There may be times when construction crews will need to work longer hours or outside of the planned days to complete certain tasks. Metro Vancouver will notify the community about these activities ahead of time.</p><p>Typical hours of work for this project will be:</p><p>
<strong>New Westminster (North Shaft Site)</strong></p><ul><li>
<strong>Monday to Friday:</strong> 7:00 am - 8:00 pm</li><li>
<strong>Saturdays:</strong> 9:00 am - 6:00 pm</li><li>
<strong>Sundays and holidays:</strong> No work planned</li></ul><p>
<strong>Surrey (South Shaft Site)</strong><br>
Our contractor will be working 24 hours a day in Surrey, from Monday to Sunday, to maintain the project schedule. All work will comply with City of Surrey bylaw variances.<br></p>
<br>
</div> |
| Impacts and mitigation | Impacts and mitigation | <div class="ExternalClass53A91068EFB64FAC890B18E0B802389B"><p>Metro Vancouver is committed to minimizing project impacts to the local businesses and residents located near the area wherever possible. As part of our process, we identified potential impacts such as noise, traffic and dust early in the design stage, and planned the following measures to mitigate them during construction:</p><p><strong>Reducing noise and vibration</strong></p><p>Construction activities will generate noise and vibration during work hours. The contractor will monitor noise to ensure the work is compliant with both municipalities’ bylaws or granted bylaw variances.</p><p>To reduce noise and vibration impacts, whenever possible, our contractor will:</p><ul><li>Schedule work with our noisiest and high-vibration equipment, such as hydro vacuum trucks and jack hammers, to take place between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm</li><li>Minimize “nuisance noise”, such as offloading equipment, operating back-up beepers, or warming up heavy equipment</li><li>Cover noisy equipment while in use</li></ul><p><strong>Keeping people moving safely and effectively</strong></p><p>We estimate an average of 15 trucks in and out of the site daily, with the exception of some construction periods where the site will receive 35-40 trucks a day.</p><p>To minimize traffic impacts in the area, our contractor will:</p><ul><li>Place traffic control personnel and signage around the construction area to ensure pedestrians, motorists and cyclists can safely move around the project site</li><li>Maintain emergency access to the area at all times</li><li>Provide temporary bridges or pathways during work that impacts public spaces</li><li>Maintain access to at least one sidewalk at all times</li><li>Remove equipment and obstructions to maximize public access to roadways and sidewalks after work hours</li></ul><p>Metro Vancouver has also planned additional measures to minimize impacts specific to each of the shaft sites.</p><p><strong>In New Westminster:</strong></p><ul><li>Contain the work within our site as much as possible in order to minimize disruptions to surrounding businesses</li><li>Restrict parking near the site only during major construction activities, except tunnelling</li></ul><p><strong>In Surrey:</strong></p><ul><li>Access and leave the project site via Grace Road and River Road. Residential streets will be avoided wherever possible</li></ul><p><strong>Managing air quality and dust</strong></p><p>To minimize greenhouse gas emissions and dust, crews will:<br></p><ul><li>Reduce vehicles idling time</li><li>Shut down equipment that is not in use</li><li>Sweep around the construction site to minimize dust</li></ul><br></div> |
| Engagement | Engagement | <div class="ExternalClass58A9A020D5F245C2AD5DD51045D77A1F"><p>At Metro Vancouver we make decisions that impact the 2.8 million residents that live in our region. Metro Vancouver engages municipalities, businesses and the general public whenever we are working on a new program, policy, or project across our service areas. Learn more about our <a href="/about-us/community-engagement" target="_blank">engagement principles</a>.<br></p><p>In 2019 and 2020, Metro Vancouver engaged with the local community to understand any concerns related to the construction of this necessary water infrastructure project.</p><p>
<strong>Open house</strong></p><p>In January 2019, Metro Vancouver held an open house about the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel for the community of New Westminster.</p><p>Supporting materials:</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span>
<a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/awst-openhouse-display-panels.pdf" target="_blank">Display Panels</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span> <a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/feedback-highlights-engagement-summary-awst.pdf" target="_blank">Feedback Highlights</a><br></li></ul><p>
<strong>Public comment period</strong></p><p>Metro Vancouver conducted an online public comment period for the Annacis Water Supply Tunnel from May 15 to May 29, 2020.</p><p>
<strong>What we heard</strong></p><p>Thank you for taking the time to participate in our public comment period. Your input is important to us and will be used to reduce projects impacts to the local community.</p><p>Below is a high-level summary of what we heard:</p><ul><li>Questions about hours of work, noise and vibration</li><li>Interest in traffic and street parking</li><li>Questions about air quality and dust control</li><li>Interest in maintaining safe access for cyclists and pedestrians</li></ul><p>Supporting material:</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span>
<a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/annacis-water-supply-tunnel-public-comment-period-display-panels.pdf" target="_blank">Display Panels</a><span style="font-size:1rem;color:#323232;font-family:"nunito sans", verdana, arial, sans-serif;"></span></li></ul><p>
<strong>Working with the community</strong></p><p>Metro Vancouver is committed to working closely with the community to ensure concerns and interests are considered as the project progresses. A community liaison is available to address questions and concerns throughout the project.</p><p>If your business or family has special considerations that we should be aware of, such as parking, mobility issues or delivery schedules, please contact our community liaison at 604-432-6200 to discuss your concerns and explore possible solutions to reduce impacts.</p><p>Local residents and businesses will receive ongoing updates through print notifications, email, web updates, and on-site signage. You can <a href="/services/water/water-engagement-mailing-list">subscribe to our mailing list</a> to receive regular updates via email.<br></p></div> |
| Project materials | Project materials | <div class="ExternalClass7C251972B1AA4B02AFE8B5603B5DA987"><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/fact-sheet-annacis-water-supply-tunnel-north-shaft-site.pdf" target="_blank" title="Fact Sheet – Annacis Water Supply Tunnel – New Westminster">Fact Sheet – Annacis Water Supply Tunnel – New Westminster</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/fact-sheet-annacis-water-supply-tunnel-south-shaft-site.pdf" target="_blank" title="Fact Sheet – Annacis Water Supply Tunnel – Surrey">Fact Sheet – Annacis Water Supply Tunnel – Surrey</a><br></li></ul>
<p>
<strong>Newsletters</strong></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/annacis-water-supply-tunnel-newsletter-tunnelling-completion-and-upcoming-activities-2025-10-24.pdf">2025 – October 24 – Tunnelling Completion and Upcoming Activities</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/newsletter-project-update-tbm-delay-valve-chamber-construction-annacis-water-supply-tunnel-2025-Apr-14.pdf" title="2025 – April 14 – Tunnel Construction Progress and Upcoming Activities Project Update Newsletter">2025 – April 14 – Tunnel Construction Progress and Upcoming Activities</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/annacis-water-supply-tunnel-project-update-south-and-north-shaft-sites-2024-11-4.pdf" title="2024 – November 8 – South and North Shaft Sites Project Update Newsletter ">2024 – November 8 – Project Update</a><br></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/2023-december-south-shaft-site-project-update.pdf" target="_blank" title="2023 – December – South Shaft Site Project Update">2023 – December – South Shaft Site Project Update</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/ConstructionDocuments/2023-december-north-shaft-site-project-update.pdf" target="_blank" title="2023 – December – North Shaft Site Project Update">2023 – December – North Shaft Site Project Update</a><br></li></ul><br></div> |
| Related links | Related links | <div class="ExternalClass27E901F2AF7C4825912885EF74511C0D"><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li">
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i> </span><a href="/search/Pages/video-results.aspx?k=annacis%20water%20supply%20tunnel" title="Visit the Video Gallery - Annacis Water Supply Tunnnel">Video gallery - Annacis Water Supply Tunnel</a><br></li><li>
<span class="fa-li">
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i> </span><a href="/services/water/the-regional-system" title="Visit the Regional System">Learn more about Metro Vancouver’s drinking water system</a></li><li>
<span class="fa-li">
<i class="fa-light fa-link"></i> </span><a href="https://www.itsalldrinkingwater.ca/" target="_blank" title="Water Conservation Tips">Water conservation tips</a><br></li></ul></div> |