Sleepless in Vancouver: Granville Street Sewer Separation Project Moving Full Speed Ahead

While much of Vancouver sleeps, our team at Complete Utility Contractors is wide awake and hard at work on the Granville Street Sewer Separation Project - a complex utility upgrade taking place within one of the city's busiest and most iconic corridors.

Granville Street is a critical north–south arterial, major transit route, and cultural hub, carrying tens of thousands of vehicles and transit riders daily. Upgrading underground infrastructure in such a heavily travelled area requires careful planning, precision, and round-the-clock coordination.

This $11 million project involves extensive night-shift work and partial 24-hour operations, allowing critical sewer upgrades to be completed safely while minimizing disruption during peak daytime hours.

Scheduled for completion in March 2026, the scope of work includes:

• Installation of approximately 450 linear metres of new sewer pipe along Granville Street, ranging from 200 mm PVC to 1,800 mm reinforced concrete

• An additional 250 linear metres of pipe installed along adjacent side streets

• Sidewalk rehabilitation along Granville Street to restore and enhance pedestrian infrastructure

"While complex, this project reflects the type of work our team is well-equipped to deliver, given the location and scope involved," says Kayla Provencal, Project Manager.

"With lane reductions, traffic impacts, and intermittent road closures along this busy stretch, careful coordination, robust traffic control, and long hours are essential."

Working on a major arterial road and key bus route adds another layer of complexity. Our traffic control team coordinates daily with Coast Mountain Bus Company to ensure transit operations remain as seamless and safe as possible.

These sewer separation upgrades play a vital role in increasing system capacity, protecting local waterways, and supporting Vancouver's long-term growth, particularly as the city continues to invest in climate resilience and aging infrastructure renewal.

A huge thank-you goes out to our crews, operators, traffic control teams, and project staff for their dedication, professionalism, and patience under challenging conditions. We also sincerely thank the public and local businesses for their understanding as we work through short-term impacts to deliver long-term benefits for the Granville Street community and the City of Vancouver as a whole.