Emergency sewer work on 49 Avenue as RCMP lose running water

Yellowknife residents are being told to avoid a section of 49 Avenue as emergency pipe repairs take place, with the city’s RCMP detachment cut off from running water in the depths of winter.

Police are into their second week of reduced hours for members of the public to access certain services as repairs continue. RCMP said on Tuesday “it is too soon to say” how long that work may take.

RCMP said most police operations are unaffected by the building’s water and sewer problems, but the front counter’s opening hours remain restricted to a four-hour window between 10am and 2pm.

“The main issue is a break in the main water and sewer pipe,” read a police statement. “We are managing around the challenges brought by the main break, with no running water. Alternative water supply and facilities have been provided.”

The City of Yellowknife said on Tuesday the repair work is expected to involve some disruption to traffic on 49 Avenue, which runs past the detachment and City Hall.

“Temporary interruption to traffic on 49 Avenue, between 50 Street and 51 Street, may be necessary to complete the work, with intermittent lane and/or road closures,” said the City by email.

“The City requests that residents proceed with caution in the area and seek alternative routes when possible.”

Without going into detail, the RCMP said it had used “alternative staffing models” to reduce the “occupancy load on the building” since an issue with the pipes first arose last week.

“These measures will remain in place until we have either a temporary and/or permanent solution in place,” read a police statement.

“Our operational and essential staff continue to work out of our main building and policing services continue to be provided on a 24-7-365 basis, as per usual.

“Our main message to the citizens of Yellowknife is to continue to dial into our emergency numbers as required. We are responding to all calls for emergency services.”

Fingerprinting and criminal records check services are now available again, having been temporarily suspended last week, police said.