Grassi Lakes is a popular local trail in the Canmore area, but those travelling the route will notice some major construction activity in the vicinity this spring.
Fortis Alberta is working to rebuild its Line 64, a distribution power line, from the Spray Generation Station to the Goat Creek day use area beginning this month.
The work involves heavy construction equipment in the area, may involve some minor blasting work and will result in brief trail and road closures on the Smith Dorrien near Whiteman’s Pond.
Fortis spokesperson Alana Antonelli said phase one of the project will replace the power distribution line from the Grassi substation past Whiteman’s Pond and may involve some blasting in the area.
“The blasting taking place consists of small charges to break the rock where we need to dig holes to set the poles,” she said. “The work happening is to improve the reliability of electricity service in the Canmore area.”
Phase one is expected to be under construction into May and some trail and road closures may occur, although Antonelli said they would be minimal.
“Closures will be five minutes at the most for the highway and any trails that are affected,” she said. “There will be certain times when road traffic will be brought down to a single lane to accommodate equipment.”
Work on phase two of the project will run until October for replacement of the distribution line through to the Three Sisters Substation past Goat Pond.
Alberta Parks issued a construction advisory for the areas around Grassi Lakes and the slopes below the East End of Rundle due to the construction activity currently underway.
