Yellowknife's Old Town parking lot closing for 3 years when work starts on new lift station

The Old Town Parking Lot in Yellowknife will soon close to the public as construction begins on a new lift station.

The three-year project, which will begin on July 22, involves both the building of the new lift station while also "demolishing and decommissioning" the old one.

Chris Greencorn, the city of Yellowknife's director of public works and engineering, said it is expected to cost around $38 million. The federal government committed to fund 75 per cent of the project's total cost — up to $41 million if the project goes above budget. 

The current station is responsible for pumping sewage from parts of downtown, Niven Lake and School Draw. It was built about 56 years ago and is the "second most important lift station in our sewage distribution system," Greencorn said.

Now, because of the station's age and an increase in the number of people using the lift station's services, it is becoming more difficult to maintain. Discussion around a replacement began in 2019, with a predesign study examining station maintenance and safety concerns. 

The lift station is located on the Old Town Parking Lot, between Franklin Ave. and School Draw Ave. The lot is also used as a recycling location and storage and parking space for cars, trailers and boats.  

During the three year construction period, recycling bins will be removed and the parking lot will be closed. Residents are encouraged to use alternative recycling locations, like the one on 52nd St., and are asked to find other places to park their vehicles and boats. Greencorn suggested seeking out "other commercial storage options or agreements with sailing or yacht clubs." 

Owners who don't remove their things from the property before the July 22 deadline won't be fined, Greencorn said. Rather, the remaining vehicles and boats will be towed to a secured site at the solid waste facility, where they can be picked up.

Craig Thomas has lived in Yellowknife for close to 30 years and frequently uses the Old Town parking lot for his boat. He's concerned about what the closure will mean for residents who have relied on the space. 

"People are going to be parking all along Old Town and bylaw is going to be coming around and ticketing everybody and it's not going to be fun," Thomas said. "One loss of service is going to create many many other issues that the city is going to have to deal with." 

Currently, the city has no other official alternative parking space for the vehicles, trailers or boats who have been using the Old Town lot.