Coaldale is set for a major sewage system upgrade thanks to a $1.8-million federal grant. The money will pay for the next stage of the West Coaldale Sanitary Trunk Main Project, helping the town’s wastewater system keep up as it grows.
The Government of Canada is putting $1,817,500 into the project through the Build Communities Strong Fund, with the Town of Coaldale matching that amount. That makes the total budget for Phase 2 $3,635,000.
Work will happen along 16th Avenue, from Highway 845 to 23rd Street, where the existing sanitary sewer will be replaced with a larger 600mm trunk main. Construction is already underway and is expected to wrap up by the end of September 2026.
This is the second phase of a bigger plan. Phase 1, now complete, put in about 350 metres of the same large pipe along Highway 845 between 14th Avenue and 16th Avenue. That work included a trenchless crossing at the 14th Avenue and Highway 845 intersection to keep traffic moving smoothly.
All of this is meant to handle new development on land Coaldale added back in 2017. The town annexed around 1,420 acres from Lethbridge County, setting aside space for 939 acres of new homes, 173 acres for shops and services near Highway 3, 144 acres for industry, and 202 acres for parks and public use.
“Coaldale is growing, and like many communities across Alberta, it needs infrastructure that can keep pace,” said the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. “That’s why we’re investing in the wastewater services Coaldale needs to increase capacity for future growth and help make new residential, commercial, and industrial development possible.”
The project ties into a wider push to get the town ready for more people and businesses. In 2024, cold chain company NewCold announced a $222-million automated storage facility in Coaldale’s west industrial area, expected to bring over 50 permanent jobs.
Coaldale’s population sat at 8,771 in the last census, but the town has been growing faster than many of its neighbours. Town council recently adopted a four-year strategic plan that puts extra focus on roads, community safety, and managing its assets as development picks up.
