Railway work can be inconvenient, but this project appears to be staying on track.
Infrastructure upgrades on South Railway Street in Okotoks are expected to continue until mid-September.
The source material did not provide further details about the scope of the work, traffic impacts, or specific construction dates.
Okotoks is building momentum by wasting less.
A Town of Okotoks pilot project diverted 21 per cent of construction waste from the landfill during its first phase, with officials saying improved sorting could push future diversion rates above 50 per cent.
The Pop-Up Landfill Pilot Project tested ways to recover and recycle materials from construction and demolition work, which the town says accounts for about 45 per cent of landfill waste.
The project found that on-site sorting could be added to construction sites without disrupting work. It also identified potential long-term savings through better separation of materials before disposal.
Azimuth Builders took part in the first phase. Future phases are expected to expand into residential construction, working with Okotoks builders and exploring opportunities with neighbouring municipalities.
The town says the initiative supports its sustainability, waste reduction and circular economy goals, as well as objectives in its Corporate Business Plan, Environmental Master Plan and Climate Action Plan.
Builders and developers interested in future waste diversion initiatives can contact the town through okotoks.ca/environment-sustainability.
For Okotoks, this milestone is a clear sign the future is starting to flow.
The Town of Okotoks and Foothills County marked a milestone Thursday in the Foothills Okotoks Regional Water Project, celebrating the completion of about 25 kilometres of watermain and the start of interim seasonal water delivery to Okotoks.
Town, county, regional and provincial representatives gathered for a ceremonial valve turning as water from the new pipeline began flowing in Okotoks.
The new line connects an interim well on the intake lands to the Okotoks Water Treatment Plant. It will provide limited seasonal water while work continues on the remaining parts of the regional system.
Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn said the project reflects cooperation between municipalities on a shared regional issue. She said water supply has been a recurring topic for council since she was first elected in 2013, with multiple options and challenges considered over the years.
Highwood MLA RJ Sigurdson said the region has dealt with water constraints for decades, affecting growth, investment, businesses and families. He said the province has committed more than $30.2 million to the project, with another $5.8 million provided through the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Foothills County Deputy Reeve Suzanne Oel said the county is working on another part of the system known as Pipe D, and that its water treatment plant is expected to come online this summer. She said the broader regional project is expected to expand water service to additional areas as it is completed.
Crews are digging up details now so July’s sewer work has a smoother flow.
Okotoks drivers should expect overnight lane restrictions at two intersections while crews confirm buried utility locations by hydrovac excavation.
The work is scheduled to begin the evening of Tuesday, June 16, and continue for four to five nights, weather permitting.
The affected locations are:
On Northridge Drive, traffic will be temporarily reconfigured for lane closures and merging. Right turns from Northridge Drive onto Riverside Drive, in both eastbound and westbound directions, may be blocked. Drivers can use Riverside Gate and Riverside Way as alternate routes.
Pedestrians are asked to follow posted signs and directions from flaggers near the work areas. Driveway and property access will be maintained, and no parking impacts are expected.
Residents near the work sites should expect loud hydrovac noise during evening and overnight hours. The Town of Okotoks says the work was scheduled at night to reduce disruption during peak traffic periods.
Crews will expose shallow utilities to confirm their locations, then restore the road surface before reopening affected lanes. The Town says it will monitor the surface after construction and repair any potholes that develop.
The work is part of the River’s Edge Infrastructure Improvement project. It is being completed before deeper utility construction planned for July, when a new sewer pipe is expected to be installed across Northridge Drive.
With a new section in service, the project is starting to make waves.
Okotoks and Foothills County marked a construction milestone Thursday for the Foothills Okotoks Regional Water Project, following the installation of about 25 kilometres of watermain.
The completed section connects an interim well on the intake lands to the Okotoks Water Treatment Plant. That connection allows limited seasonal water delivery to Okotoks while other parts of the regional system remain under construction.
Work is continuing on the intake pump station, midline pump station, Okotoks raw water reservoir, Aldersyde Water Treatment Plant and related watermain connection.
Once complete, the regional system is expected to draw water from the Bow River and deliver it to treatment facilities in both Okotoks and Foothills County. The municipalities say the project is intended to improve long-term water security and support future growth in the region.
The project includes a regional pipeline, Bow River intake, pump station and an above-ground raw water reservoir with capacity of about 300,000 cubic metres.
Funding comes from federal and provincial grants, municipal partner contributions and off-site levies charged to developers for growth-related infrastructure. The project has received $30.2 million through Alberta’s Water for Life program and $5.8 million through the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
More information is available through the Town of Okotoks project page at Shape Our Town.
That's a lot of road work to navigate, but at least the updates help pave the way.
Drivers in and around Okotoks should expect several road closures and construction zones this week and through the summer.
Foothills County is advising motorists that 128 Street E will be closed to through traffic north of 402 Avenue E on June 9 while Public Works replaces a culvert. The one-day closure is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The county says drivers can use alternate routes through 112 Street E and Highway 547, or 144 Street E and Highway 547.
In Okotoks, the town’s construction season includes several ongoing projects:
The town says pothole repairs and line painting will continue throughout the community. Drivers are asked to slow down, follow posted signs and obey flag personnel.
North of Okotoks, Alberta Transportation bridge rehabilitation work continues on Highway 2 and Highway 2A. Both highways remain open, but drivers should expect changing traffic patterns and extra travel time.
According to 511 Alberta, the bridge work is expected to continue until Oct. 31. Eastbound lanes on the bridge remain open, while westbound traffic is being detoured. The speed limit in the construction zone is 30 km/h.
This project is tying things together beneath the surface.
A partial road closure is scheduled at Westmount Road and Southridge Drive in the commercial business area from June 1 to June 12, 2026.
The work involves underground utility tie-ins for water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer service. Crews are connecting the Westmount Townhomes development to existing municipal infrastructure.
Work is scheduled daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Drivers can expect construction crews, heavy equipment, noise, traffic control and detour signage during the project.
Traffic will be redirected around the commercial area while the work is underway.
For FSD, the numbers are headed back to class.
The Foothills School Division board of trustees approved its 2026-27 operating budget on May 27, with spending planned to exceed revenue as the division focuses on class sizes, curriculum work and inclusive education.
The budget is guided by FSD’s 2024-29 Education Plan. Board chair Theresa Letendre said trustees aimed to align resources with priorities for students and families while considering the long-term needs of communities served by the division.
FSD is budgeting $104.48 million in revenue and $105.57 million in expenses using the Adjusted Enrolment Method. The division says it will remain above Alberta’s minimum reserve requirement, which requires school boards to hold operating reserves of at least one per cent of expenditures based on their most recent audited financial statements.
The division plans to spend approximately $80.7 million on staffing, about 75 per cent of budgeted expenditures. Other planned spending includes $3.36 million for custodial services, $14.96 million for contracts, services and supplies, and $6.55 million for capital and debt servicing.
FSD projects 7,406 kindergarten-to-Grade 12 students in 2026-27, down 2.2 per cent from 7,573 students in 2025-26. The division says enrolment has declined 8.36 per cent since the 2022-23 school year, and it hopes to increase enrolment through Foothills Digital School expansion and continued program development.
The division’s capital priorities include proposed new schools in Okotoks and High River. The Okotoks proposal is for a 900-student K-9 school, while the High River proposal is for a school in the Spitzee Crossing development with the grade configuration still to be determined.
FSD also listed nine modernization priorities, including Riley Middle School, Turner Valley School, C. Ian McLaren School, Cayley School, Joe Clark School, Big Rock School and Longview School.
A separate new Grade 10-12 high school in Okotoks, announced by FSD in February 2025, is being developed with Alberta Infrastructure, the Town of Okotoks and the project’s engineering, design and consulting firm. The division expects occupancy in April 2029.
FSD said budget planning was shaped by feedback from education partners, including calls for manageable class sizes, literacy and numeracy supports, services for diverse learners and resources for curriculum implementation. Superintendent Chris Fuzessy said the budget and education plan reflect what the division heard from families, students and staff.
This project is tying up traffic now so future homes can flow smoothly.
A section of Wolf Crescent in Wedderburn will be closed from May 25 to June 5, 2026, while crews complete underground utility tie-ins for a new housing complex.
The work is taking place at 75 Wolf Crescent, west of Banister Drive and east of Northridge Drive. Crews will connect the development to main water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer lines.
Work is scheduled daily, Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Residents should expect construction crews, heavy equipment and noise during working hours, along with traffic signs directing drivers through the detour route.
Crews are working to make the site reservoir-ready and lawn-lasting.
Landscaping work is underway at the Tower Hill reservoir site entrance as crews complete final restoration around the upgraded water infrastructure.
The Town says the work includes topsoil grading, sod installation and seeding around the reservoir site. It is expected to be finished in early June, weather permitting.
Roads remain open, and the Tower Hill tennis court parking lot is open. Work zones will be clearly marked.
Pedestrian access may be temporarily affected near the immediate work area. Residents may also notice construction equipment, minor noise and restricted access close to the reservoir site.
The project supports site restoration and accessibility improvements following recent water infrastructure upgrades at the reservoir.
