Bowness water main break and sinkhole disrupt Calgary businesses

A water main break and subsequent large sinkhole on Bowness Road in Calgary have disrupted local commerce and traffic. The incident has led to water outages for approximately 20 businesses in the Bowness neighborhood.

Local businesses, including Brewsmith and Reliquary Cards, reported significant operational challenges. Brewsmith, located directly across from the sinkhole, has been forced to limit service to canned beverages and cannot serve food or pints. The owners estimated potential weekend revenue losses of several thousand dollars. Reliquary Cards reported that its small kitchen and public bathrooms are closed, forcing staff and tournament participants to use nearby facilities.

This incident follows a pattern of infrastructure issues in the area; residents and business owners noted previous major water main ruptures in June 2024 and December 2025. The westbound lane of Bowness Road remains closed between 62 Street and 63 Street NW, while the eastbound lane remains open.