For Immediate Release
Oct. 2, 2003, 09:30 a.m.
'Neighbours' Get Cataraqui River Crossing Update
Utilities Kingston continues to reach-out to neighbouring communities as part of a plan to update stakeholders about the Cataraqui River crossing construction project. On Wednesday October 8, senior utility engineer Allen Lucas travels east to Brockville to speak to delegates attending an Ontario Public Works Association meeting.
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Lucas will be joined by Gary Holowach a project manager with R. V. Anderson Associates, a consulting firm working on the multi-million dollar sewer upgrade with Utilities Kingston.
"It's important to keep neighbouring communities informed about the work we are doing. The river flows east, so communities like Brockville and Gananoque will be affected quite positively when the construction project is completed," said Jim Keech, CEO of Utilities Kingston.
Of greatest interest to the Brockville community is the fact that Kingston's River Street sewage pumping station has insufficient storage to handle over flows during extreme wet weather events. When heavy rainfall happens, sewers over flow to the river because storage capacity has been exceeded say officials.
Keech says that an expanded River Street pumping station along with the new twinned pipes should "significantly reduce" sewer over flows into the river.
In 1955, both a water main and sewage force main pipe were installed under the Great Cataraqui River. The sewage pipe conveys sewage generated by about 60,000 people living and working west of the river while the water main carries water to about 10,000 people in the east. Although the pipes being replaced were installed in the 1950's both have operated without problems. However officials note that if problems were to occur, there is no backup in place for either system. Here is a run down of some of the work being undertaken as part of the Cataraqui River crossing project.
Reconstruction of Duty Drive & intersection improvements at County Road # 2: This work was required to facilitate construction traffic through CFB Kingston and enable access to the eastern part of the proposed water and sewer crossing. Construction started in June 2003 and is completed.
Construction of temporary dock, dredging, and laying of the water & sewer pipes: This work will include environmental dredging of the trench, the laying of one water main and two sewer force mains, and construction of all environmental protection measures such as surface water management facilities. Construction of the dock got underway in July.
Construction of a temporary dewatering facility: A temporary storage/dewatering facility to be constructed at the City's snow disposal site located immediately west of Division Street, north of Highway 401. Construction of the facility will occur at the same time as construction of the dock.
River Street pumping station upgrade: The existing station will be upgraded with new equipment installed to assure compliance with current health and safety and building code regulations, as well as improved handling of wastewater flows during peak events.
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Media contact information:
Jim Keech, CEO, Utilities Kingston, 546-1181 ext. 2217
Allen Lucas, Engineer, Utilities Kingston, 546-1181 ext. 2250
