Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-11-25, Page 26Valleys & People - Fail 1987 -- Page 2 Listowel Conduit Reconstruction Continues The Listowel Flood Control project con- tinues to make good progess. Construction of the 8th Phase of the project will be com- pleted in November. With the completion of Phase 8, which includes the short section of conduit up- stream of Wallace Avenue North, only one year of work remains to complete the en- tire flood control project. Construction of Phase 8 began early m August. This phase involved the recon- struction of the conduit inlet at the Wallace Avenue North bridge and the retaining wall along the east side of the Maitland River. Good weather and low water levels on the Maitland River has allowed work to move ahead quickly. Construction is ex- pected to be complete about one week ahead of schedule. Rideau Valley Constructors Ltd. of Stratford was selected as the builder of Phase 8. This contractor was chosen from five tenders submitted at a tender price of $355,150. Eighty-five per cent of the cost is funded by the Ontario Government through the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The remaining 15 per cent will be paid by the Town of Listowel, as the benefitting municipality. It was anticipated that Phase 7 of the project, involving the reconstruction of the conduit on the south side of Main Street would proceed in 1987. However delays were experienced in finalizing landowner agreements. Phase 7 is expected to be undertaken in 1988. Work on PhaSe 6, on the north side of Main Street, was completed last Febru- ary. Two of the three buildings demolished to make way for Phase 6 have been rebuilt with a third to follow. Completion of all eight phases of the pro- ject will reduce the chance of flooding in downtown Listowel to one in 100 each year from the previous level of one in seven. The flooding problem in Listowel was aggravated by the old conduit that chan- nels river water through and under the town. The small size and poor construction of the old structure caused flood waters to backup, overtopthe conduit and flow into the streets. The new conduit has a much greater capacity to carry flood waters. The rebuilding of the conduit has been discussed since the 1950s. In 1975 the MVCA prepared a report at the request of the Town of Listowel evaluating various flood control proposals. A plan to upgrade Goderich Bluffs project completed for 1987 The second phase of construction of a breakwall along the Goderich waterfront was completed in March of this year. The breakwall, or groyne, was built adjacent to the town's pollution control plant to protect beach area from the punishing waves of Lake Huron. This is the first step in the long-term goal of controll- ing erosion of the bluff itself. The work completed this spring included a 61 metre rock extension to the first sec- tion of breakwall built in 1986. About 1,600 tonnes of armour stone was placed on the site by Owen King Construc- tion Ltd. of Walkerton, contractors for the project. The total cost of the 1987 work was $107,000. Eighty-five per cent of the cost was paid by the Ontario Government through the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The Town of Goderich, as the benefitting municipality paid the remain- ing 15 per cent . the conduit was agreed upon. Since that time the project has seen the replacement of two highway bridges, channel improvements in the south end of Listowel and reconstruction of all but the last remaining section of conduit on the south side of Main Street. PHASE 8—Demolition of the old conduit upstream of the Wallace Avenue North bridge took place earlier this year to make way for Phase 8 of the conduit recon- struction. Although this project is designed pri- marily to protect property on the water- front, the breakwall has created new recreation potential on the Goderich shore. A new stretch of sand beach has formed behind the breakwall and is being enjoyed by area residents and visitors. The problem of erosion along the Goderich waterfront has long been recog- nized. Both the pollution control plant and a number of residences will eventually be threatened by the erosion of the bluff. The bluff is eroding back from the shore at a rate of about one metre per year. The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority is continuing to pursue govern- ment fundingfor the engineering and re- pairs to the bluff itself. A lack of funding to Conservation Authorities prevented this work from proceeding in 1987. The MVCA will continue to pursue funds in 1988. GOING UP—New buildings are being constructed on Main Street in Listowel. These structures replace those demolished prior to the reconstruction of Phase 6 of the conduit rebuilding project. WATERFRONT–The view from the top of the Goderich Bluffs shows the breakwall to protect the shoreline from Lake Huron waves. NEEDING REPAIR—Future work on the Goderich Waterfront will include the re- pair of the badly eroded bluff.