Metro Vancouver will pay Coquitlam $4 million in compensation to install a mega water main down Pipeline Road this fall.
On Monday (April 3), Jamie Boan, the city's general manager of engineering and public works, said Coquitlam will get the cash as a result of construction impacts along the southern part of the municipal road, as well as the eastern side of Town Centre Park.
The money will be deposited into four city accounts:
- Town Centre Park Development Fund
- Pipeline Road Upgrade Project
- DCC Parkland Acquisition Reserve
- Major Transportation Reserve
Most of the trees on the eastern side of the park will be ripped out but replaced on a 2:1 ratio, Boan said.
As well, the Metro money for the first construction phase along Pipeline Road — from Robson Drive to Guildford Way — is for a three-year lease of the gravel parking lot south of the tennis courts, and for inflationary costs.
The new 12-km water main — measuring up to 3.2 m in diameter — from Coquitlam Lake is needed to meet regional demand, said Coun. Craig Hodge, who represents the city on the Metro board and is on its water committee.
Still, Coun. Brent Asmundson, a former Metro water committee member, argued the pipe is "excessive....It's twice the size that's needed."
Last month, Metro OK'd a $97-million contract for Michels Canada Company to install the water main from Robson to Guildford.
In January 2022, the agency approved a $15.7-million USD tender for the Northwest Pipe Company to supply and deliver the pipe for the infrastructure project that starts this fall:
- Robson to Guildford Section: 2023–2026
- Pipeline Road North Section: 2026–2030
- City Centre Tunnel Section: 2026–2031
- Cape Horn Section: 2024–2030
The project is "six years of impact," Boan warned council at its council-in-committee meeting (Couns. Steve Kim and Dennis Marsden were not at the meeting).
"We are going to feel the pain. There will be visual. There will be noise. There will be traffic. There will be tree and park impacts."
However, Boan said Metro will do "everything that it can" to minimize the disruptions, especially for New Horizons residents.
Coun. Robert Mazzarolo said he's disheartened with the number of park trees facing the axe and he urged city staff to work with Metro "to be aggressive with tree planting" and ensure communication with commuters, neighbours and park users, like the Coquitlam Tennis Club, is clear about construction.
Information about the Coquitlam Main No. 4 project is available via Metro Vancouver's community liaison at 604-432-6200 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
