Aldergrove Star, November 06, 2014

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ALDERGROVE Your Hometown Community Newspaper for over 56 Years

| Thursday, November 6, 2014

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Lest We Forget

Aldergrove water line hit by problems, delays By DAN FERGUSON

through the casing [of the line] had to be replaced due to incorrect specifications,” Seifi said. “The correct watermain pipe (as per the design) has been installed.” Asked if the horizontal drilling had missed the connection with the pipeline, Seifi said the pipe was “slightly deeper than the excavated exit pit.” He described the setbacks as “temporary disturbances, that are not uncommon with a construction project of this size, scope and complexity. “ Seifi added the project is still within budget “with no indications that it will not be completed within budget.” The pipeline is designed to replace the seven groundwater wells that supply water to East Langley, which currently has to impose water rationing every summer. It is the largest project ever undertaken by the Township, with 14 kilometres of one-metre diameter water main and a booster pump station connecting to the regional Metro Vancouver water system. Another factor that could further delay full service to Aldergrove concerns a pump station in Maple Ridge that is also running behind schedule. It is being built by Metro Vancouver, which has reported “unanticipated geotechnical problems” as well as problems with contractors and suppliers top Langley Township.

Aldergrove Star

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mayor Jack Froese receiving the first Poppy of the 2014 campaign from 94 year old veteran, Bud Freeston. Freeston is one of 39 surviving World War 2 veterans who are members of the Aldergrove Legion. Aldergrove Royal Canadian Legion was presented with the Special Proclamation from the Township of Langley Council, declaring “November as Royal Canadian Legion Branch 265 Aldergrove month.” (Story, page 15)

Problems “due to challenges and site conditions encountered in the field” have delayed completion of the $33.5 million East Langley water line project, Township engineering and community development manager Ramin Seifi said Monday. In response to a Times query, Seifi said the delay amounts to a “few weeks … from late 2014 to early 2015.” On Sept. 13, a subcontractor using an boring machine to push pipe under Michael’s Brook, upstream from the Nicomekl Enhancement Society hatchery, caused a collapse, dumping sediment into the water. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans required restoration of both the collapsed area of Michael’s Brook and everything downstream before salmon started spawning. The remediation work was done “by, and under the supervision of, qualified professionals that specialise in the various related fields, under the approval of senior government,” Seifi said. There have also been problems with the some of the pipeline alignment and specifications. Asked if some of the pipeline was the wrong thickness, Seifi confirmed that a portion had to be replaced. “I understand a section of pipe

Empty coal trains continue to run through rural Langley By FRANK BUCHOLTZ Aldergrove Star

Since July 7, Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY) has been rerouting empty BNSF unit trains from the Westshore unloading terminal at Roberts Bank to the Sumas border crossing in Abbotsford. SRY train crews pick up the empty trains as soon as they are unloaded, transport them over BC Rail’s Port Subdivision through Delta and Surrey, then over CPR’s Page Subdivision through Langley

and then over the SRY Fraser Valley Subdivision through Langley Township and Abbotsford. To date, there have been very few operational issues with the rerouting, says SRY spokesman Singh Biln. The rerouting allowed BNSF to perform track and bridge work on their regular train corridor through the Blaine border crossing and alongside Semiahmoo and Mud Bay in Surrey and White Rock. The railway is replacing a long wooden trestle over the Serpentine

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River, where it flows into Mud Bay. The rerouting was to end on Oct. 15, but BNSF requested an extension until Nov. 30. Consequently, SRY will continue to reroute empty trains through Langley and Abbotsford to the Sumas border crossing until at least the end of November. “Railroads are a vital part of the North American transportation network and long single-commodity unit train operations are now standard on most railways. The Railway Association of Canada reports that

one such train can remove up to 280 trucks from our congested highways,” Biln states. “Unit train traffic continues to increase on all railroads, particularly on lightly loaded rail corridors; SRY must also keep pace with industry trends in order to remain competitive. Consequently, SRY will continue to seek new business and increase the use of our lightly loaded track segments.” The track through Langley utilized by the coal trains leaves the

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heavily-used rail corridor just east of 232 Street and crosses 72 Avenue, 240 Street, 248 Street, 256 Street, 258 Street, 64 Avenue and 272 Street before entering Abbotsford, where it travels through Bradner and Mount Lehman before descending a steep grade to the Matsqui flats. Other than SRY’s own local trains, only eastbound coal trains are using the corridor. About three trains per day have been travelling on the line since July 7.

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