An interesting piece of abandoned infrastructure was dug up on South Hill in Moose Jaw this week as the Infrastructure Renewal Program continues.
A wooden water pipe that would have supplied potable water in the early 1900s was found, according to Travis LeBlanc, manager of design and projects with the Engineering Department at the City of Moose Jaw.
“It was at the intersection of 9th Avenue Southwest and Coteau Street West. It was actually on the east side of the intersection, heading towards 8th Avenue,” explained LeBlanc.
He said that while he has seen wooden pipes before during his 11 years with the City, this piece was notable. “Typically, with wooden water mains, when we pull them out of the ground, they come out in pieces, and this piece actually came out in rather good shape. A lot of the coils and some of the pipe itself is still in rather good shape.”
He explained that when wooden water mains were used in the past, the water would make the wood swell and keep the pipe formed. They dry out, become brittle, and cave in when no longer in use.
LeBlanc believes the pipe would have been left in the ground when the block was relayed to cast iron in the early 1960s.
When asked about other notable infrastructure finds he’s seen over the years in Moose Jaw, he pointed to old rail ties found 0.3 to 0.5 metres below the ground.
“You’ll sometimes see them on High Street West. I saw some there on the 200-300 block a few years ago when we were digging," he said. "And then this year, we actually saw it on Main and River.”
City manager Maryse Carmichael suggested on social media that the wooden water pipe could end up on display at City Hall.