TransCanada's wholly owned subsidiary Nova Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) is holding a follow-up open house today, Jan. 18, to provide further details on the West Path Delivery Project that will add a third pipeline to the corridor running north to south through Cochrane.

Since its September open house, NGTL has determined their preferred route through the community that runs parallel to an existing pipeline utility corridor for about 6 km through Cochrane and continues south through Rocky View County for another 15 km, also parallel to existing infrastructure in most cases.

NGTL intends to file a section 58 application to the National Energy Board in February and anticipates the approval process will take 12 to 18 months to complete, depending on the number of conditions placed on the project. A section 58 application is potentially a shorter application process that doesn't necessarily trigger a public hearing.

Pending NEB approval, they are anticipating the project will begin around July 2019 with completion in June 2020 and expect to be working within Cochrane corporate limits for three to five months.

The 42-inch diameter pipeline proposed would be the third in the corridor, the last one being established in 2006.

During their Jan. 8 meeting, Cochrane town council largely raised issues surrounding traffic, dust and noise and received assurances all would be taken into consideration during the construction phase. In responding to a presentation by project manager David Eremita, councillors emphasized the need to keep the communication lines open with residents to address issues raised in an expedient manner, 

More creative was Councillor Morgan Nagel's suggestion of TransCanada sponsoring the new off-leash dog park adjacent to Hwy. 22 and Quigley Dr. that lies above part of the land that would be disturbed for the project. While Eremita assured the land would be put back to the same if not better condition, he did not go so far as to take up Nagel on his sales pitch.

The pipeline will pass nearby the intersection of Hwy. 1A and Hwy. 22 and NGTL is consulting with Alberta Transportation on the exact underground route it will take.

It also will pass under the Bow River at a depth of about 16 metres. When last placing a pipeline under the riverbed, NGTL accumulated detailed geotechnical information and believe conditions could not be much better for the crossing. Eremita says seven to 10 metres below the riverbed is solid mud and previously posed no difficulty in drilling or to the overall project.

The company says the project will offer short-term and long-term economic benefits. Locally, it could potentially provide short-term employment for equipment operators, welders, mechanic, truck drivers and labourers. The economic spin includes purchases from local suppliers and service sector, hotels and restaurants.

This new pipeline will supply southwest Alberta and connected downstream markets with natural gas produced in Western Canada.

The open house takes place at The Clubhouse, located at the Cochrane Ranche Historic Site from 4 to 8 p.m.