Committee hurries $6.2M rebuild of St. B flood dike

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This article was published 31/10/2016 (3014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Work is expected to start on the reconstruction of the Lyndale Drive retaining wall before the end of the year.

A civic committee Monday endorsed an administrative request to award construction contracts for the $6.2 million project ahead of the approved 2017 start date.

Councillors on the environment committee were told contracts need to be awarded before the end of the year to ensure the work is completed before spring 2017. Council earlier approved the wall’s reconstruction for 2017.

Lyndale Drive is the primary dike for flood protection in the St. Boniface area. The work involves removing the existing retaining wall and doing 500 lineal metres of riverbank stabilization work. The administration is concerned that if the project isn’t finished before the end of winter, the exposed riverbank could collapse.

Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the environment committee, said the work needs to be done during the winter months when the river level is low.

The city had previously approved a combined $1.2 million for design work and public consultations in 2015 and 2016. The committee endorsed a request for an allocation of $5 million for construction in advance of the 2017 capital budget. The proposal must still be approved by council.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca