'Happy to help': Replacement pipes start journey from San Diego to Calgary

Twelve days after a massive water main broke in Calgary, a pair of replacement pipes from San Diego will start a multi-day journey heading north to help crews here repair five sections.

Twelve days after a massive water main broke in Calgary, a pair of replacement pipes from San Diego will start a multi-day journey heading north to help crews here repair five sections.

"These are spare pipes that we've had in our yard and they are a suitable size for use in Calgary," Martin Coghill told CTV News.

"The truck has just arrived, we're loading up the truck (and) we'll be heading up there," said the operations and maintenance manager of San Diego County Water Authority.

The two 24-foot sections of 77-inch pipe were sourced by the City of Calgary, who reached out to authorities across North America for help finding material to fix the five "hot spots."

The pipes weigh 12,500 pounds and will be trucked to Calgary this week.

Before the pieces started the three-to-four-day journey, workers signed the cylinders with "good luck" messages for crews in Calgary to read before they're put into place along 16th Avenue N.W.

"I felt a nice little message was deserved, and hopefully it brings good luck for the pipe and for the people of Calgary," Coghill said.