The Lift Station #1 Replacement Project is a critical investment in the City’s wastewater and sewage system to ensure reliable service for the community for decades to come.
The project consists of three main components:
- Construction of a new Lift Station #1 while maintaining function of the existing lift station;
- Replacement of a section of forcemain between the new lift station and 44 Street, along Franklin Avenue; and
- Demolition of the existing Lift Station #1, once commissioning of the new lift station is complete.
At the end of the project, the overall site will look similar to the digital rendering shown below, with the lift station being the central feature.
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Construction Updates |
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October 7, 2025 The Lift Station #1 Project is well underway. For October, residents can expect more piling work to be completed. To maintain the project schedule, the hours for construction will be extended to 11 p.m., with work occurring in accordance with the City’ s Noise By-Law No. 3537. Work occurring between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. will be quieter than work performed during other hours of the day. The extension of hours will start October 8, 2025. The City acknowledges that the extension of construction hours may cause an inconvenience. However, the project is a vital investment in Yellowknife’s wastewater and sewage system to ensure reliable service for years to come. |
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Background |
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Lift Station #1, located at the corner of Franklin Avenue and School Draw Avenue in Old Town, was constructed in 1967 (58 years old) and is the oldest lift station in the City of Yellowknife. It collects sewage from the Downtown and Niven areas, as well as from sewage pumpout trucks for the Old Town/Latham Island area, and pumps it up the Franklin Avenue Hill. The area that Lift Station #1 serves has recently experienced substantial development which has caused increased demand on the lift station. This has pushed the lift station to its capacity and it cannot sustain further developments within in the Lift Station #1 catchment area. |
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New Lift Station |
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The new facility includes a lift station, as well as infrastructure for sewage truck dumping and potable water truck fill. The overall capacity of the lift station will be increased by approximately 60%, which will allow for further development in the Downtown, Niven, School Draw and Old Town/Latham Island areas. The portion of the lift station that will be seen by residents hides over 20 meters of important infrastructure including the building’s foundations. The digital renderings below show how the lift station is expected to look when the project is completed. Photo Gallery: Lift Station 1 Replacement Project will appear here on the public site.
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Forcemain Replacement |
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The forcemain, which moves sewage from the lift station up the Franklin Avenue Hill, will be replaced as part of this project. The section being replaced runs from the new lift station to a connection point by the intersection of Franklin Avenue and 44 Street. This work will require lane/road closures on Franklin Avenue and is expected to occur during the spring/summer of 2026. |
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Demolition of Old Lift Station and Completion of Site Work |
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Once the new lift station is fully operational, work will begin to demolish the existing lift station and complete the overall site work. The site work includes concrete and asphalt work to pave and delineate sections of the parking lot for various activities, as well as landscaping. When the project is complete, residents can expect to use the many functions of the site including trailer parking, recycling, and short-term parking for those enjoying the businesses and restaurants in Old Town. |
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Project Funding |
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This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Canada Housing and Infrastructure Fund.
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