A significant water main rupture in northwest Calgary on Tuesday evening has plunged parts of the city into disarray, disrupting service for approximately 2,000 residences and forcing the closure of a major highway due to flooding.
Highway Closed and Homes Affected
The incident occurred near 16th Avenue N.W. in the Bowness area. Shortly after 8 p.m. on December 30, 2025, Calgary police urgently advised motorists to avoid the Trans-Canada Highway through Bowness and the neighbouring community of Montgomery.
Authorities reported significant flooding in the area, with several vehicles becoming stuck. Westbound lanes of 16th Avenue were closed between Home Road and Sarcee Trail, with the closure expected to last for several hours. Fortunately, police confirmed no serious injuries had been reported.
Widespread Water Service Disruption
According to the City of Calgary's water main break portal, the broken pipe at 6920 29th Avenue N.W. impacted water service to about 2,000 homes and 100 businesses. Residents in areas including Parkdale and the Beltline took to social media to report lower-than-usual water pressure following the break.
A city spokesperson stated that officials were in the early stages of determining the cause of the rupture and that no additional details were immediately available.
Echoes of Past Infrastructure Failure
The location of this break is notably close to the site of the catastrophic Bearspaw South feeder main rupture in June 2024. That earlier failure, one of the city's major water distribution pipes, burst along 16th Avenue N.W. near Shouldice Park and led to a prolonged city-wide water crisis requiring months of conservation and repairs.
While the scale and impact of this latest break are still being assessed, its proximity to the previous major failure raises immediate concerns about the state of Calgary's critical water infrastructure.
City crews are on scene working to contain the flooding and begin repairs. Residents in affected areas are advised to prepare for potential ongoing water pressure issues and to follow official updates from the City of Calgary and Calgary Police for traffic advisories.
