The City of Calgary is launching a new flood mitigation project along the Bow River aimed at protecting the communities of Hillhurst and Sunnyside after they were devastated by flooding 11 years ago.
The June 2013 flood caused over $6 billion in damage to Calgary and displaced over 100,000 people, leading to a series of flood mitigation projects across the city in the following years.
The Sunnyside Flood Barrier Project, 2.4 kilometres long and estimated to cost $50 million, will be constructed along the north bank of the Bow River between 14th Street NW and Centre Street.
“This barrier will reduce the need for in-person response and provide security in a proactive way that will protect us well into the future,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek said during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.
According to the city, the barrier will use a combination of permanent and sheet flood walls, as well as temporary features like sandbags and detachable flood walls to be used when river flows increase.
A rendering of the permanent concrete wall of the Sunnyside flood barrier near the Prince's Island pedestrian bridge.
Courtesy: City of Calgary
A rendering of the sheet flood wall along the Sunnyside flood barrier near the Calgary Soldiers' Memorial.
Courtesy: City of Calgary
This is expected to protect communities from a once in 100 year flood, similar to 2013 levels.
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Although this is more than the once-in-20-year flood protection originally planned, it is less than the once-in-200-year flood protection that community organisations have been advocating.
“That's where we're headed,” said Charlie Lund, chairman of the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association's flood committee. “It provides pretty good protection, maybe not excellent protection, but we'll feel pretty well protected when it's completed.”
Map showing distance to the Sunnyside flood barrier.
Courtesy: City of Calgary
The first phase of construction is expected to begin next week, with the closure of the eastbound lanes of Memorial Drive between River Road and 14th Street and 10th Street NW.
Both eastbound lanes of Memorial Drive will be closed between Centre Street and 9th Street NW later this month, and the closure is expected to continue until the fall.
“While there will be short-term inconveniences, the long-term benefits will far outweigh them,” said Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services for the City of Calgary.
The project also includes improvements to the path network on the north bank of the Bow River, but will require the removal of 337 trees, 22 of which have already been removed.
The city said tree removal is a last resort, and that the project will see 280 new trees, flowers and shrubs planted.
The project is expected to be completed in 2026, and will require frequent disruptions to Memorial Drive and the route network for the next two years.
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