Description:

Due to blockages and the assumed age and condition of the culverts, the proposed scope of work will consist of the following:

• removal of culvert blockages;
• repair of the culvert inlets and outlets;
• beaver cage installation to prevent further blockages;
• lining of the culverts depending on the condition of the infrastructure during investigation.

Location:

Highway 28 and Highway 55, South of Creekside Subdivision.

Updates:

Clearing of the beaver dams and culvert blockages has been completed to enable the consultant to evaluate the condition of the culverts prior to design and tendering.

Project Awarded to Charbern - May 2022

Schedule:

This project is currently in the design stage. Anticipate tendering and completing the work in the 2021/2022 winter construction season.

Construction start: September 19, 2022

Construction completion: September 30, 2022

Background:

There are three (3) culverts that run under Highway 55, west of Highway 28, at Palm Creek. They were constructed to drain the area north of the highway. Flows travel south along Palm Creek to 53 Avenue and 59 Street in Cold Lake south. Routine maintenance and beaver dam removal conducted on the culverts over the years has damaged the aged infrastructure and the beavers continue to block off the east culvert which prevents the flows from the north to flow as per the original design. This results in ponding and storm water backups.

Based on the condition of the culvert ends and the blockages, it was requested that a detailed assessment of the culverts and watercourse be conducted. In 2021, funding was allocated by Council to engage Associated Engineering to complete an assessment of the Palm Creek watercourse to determine the existing condition and to develop a remediation/replacement strategy. Based on the report, the culverts were in poor condition and had a remaining life of less than one year. Three options were provided:

1. Repair the existing culverts with new inlets and outlets, liner and beaver cages.
2. Replacement of the culverts through open cut trenching.
3.  Replacement of the culverts through trenchless drilling.

Based on costs and the future plans for the Palm Creek Drainage Parkway, the City engaged SE Design to proceed with the design and permit approvals to repair the culvert as recommended in Option 1 of the Associated Engineering Report. Additional funding in the amount of $100,000 was allocated in 2022 to complete the repair work as recommended.

Budget:

Approved Budget: $250,000
Funding source:
2021 Unrestricted Surplus - $150,000
2022 ID349 - $100,000

How will this benefit the community?

The proposed work will re-establish proper drainage within the Palm Creek drainage basin to protect the upstream, downstream and surrounding lands from property damage due to erosion, potential flooding and water course redirection caused by storm water backups due to blockages and potential culvert deterioration.

Strategic alignment:

The work to repair and restore the drainage flows and patterns aligns with the City’s objectives to facilitate orderly drainage within the existing developed areas and future development as detailed in the City’s Storm Water Master Plan Part 1 and Part 2.