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Sewage pipe in James Bay moved underwater this weekend

Pipe pull to McLoughlin Point will take approximately three days, crews working 24/7
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The sewage pipe that has been sitting on Niagara Street for a month is being moved into place via Dallas Road. Don Denton/Black Press

The giant pipe that has infiltrated the neighbourhood of James Bay for the better part of six weeks is scheduled to be moved this weekend.

The cross-harbour undersea pipe that will eventually connect Ogden Point to the new wastewater treatment plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt has been sitting in a staging area along Niagara Street since March 5.

Seventy-eight segments of the pipe were welded together there, before being placed onto rollers for final assembly.

The 914-metre pipe weighs over 615,000 kilograms.

Over three days, the pipe will be pulled through an underwater tunnel that has been drilled under the harbour. When placed, it will transport wastewater from the Clover Point pump station to the plant for treatment.

Dallas Road will be closed to all traffic as the pipe is moved across the street, to be picked up by cranes on April 13, that will thread the pipe into the tunnel.

Once work commences, it will be continuous, taking approximately three days with crews working 24 hours a day. Cross streets will re-open as the pipe slowly moves its way down Niagara Street, pulled by equipment located at McLoughlin Point.

For more details visit wastewaterproject.ca for updates.

kristyn.anthony @vicnews.com