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The City of Winnipeg (the City) investigated how best to protect City infrastructure and preserve the south bank of the Assiniboine River on Wellington Crescent between Assiniboine Park and Doncaster Street. Stabilizing the bank is necessary to protect underground utilities and the nearby path and road from further riverbank failure.
Various options to manage riverbank related risks were evaluated to determine the best approach for protecting City assets and amenities.
In the summer of 2016, cracks appeared in the walk bike path along Wellington Crescent near Lamont Boulevard. The City was monitoring the area and found that the cracking was caused by riverbank movement. The riverbank movement continued to worsen, and in July 2017 the riverbank failed. The walk bike path was closed for safety reasons and a temporary gravel detour was built along the north curb of Wellington Crescent. The riverbank monitoring also identified potential risks to the path and street at other locations within the project area.
In September 2018, the City began investigating solutions for the project area. The Wellington Crescent Riverbank, Path, and Roadway Project seeks to:
The City of Winnipeg (the City) investigated how best to protect City infrastructure and preserve the south bank of the Assiniboine River on Wellington Crescent between Assiniboine Park and Doncaster Street. Stabilizing the bank is necessary to protect underground utilities and the nearby path and road from further riverbank failure.
Various options to manage riverbank related risks were evaluated to determine the best approach for protecting City assets and amenities.
In the summer of 2016, cracks appeared in the walk bike path along Wellington Crescent near Lamont Boulevard. The City was monitoring the area and found that the cracking was caused by riverbank movement. The riverbank movement continued to worsen, and in July 2017 the riverbank failed. The walk bike path was closed for safety reasons and a temporary gravel detour was built along the north curb of Wellington Crescent. The riverbank monitoring also identified potential risks to the path and street at other locations within the project area.
In September 2018, the City began investigating solutions for the project area. The Wellington Crescent Riverbank, Path, and Roadway Project seeks to:
Have a question about this project? Connect with the project team using the Q&A. We will aim to provide an answer in five business days.
The project team has received your PowerPoint submission. Unfortunately, this Q&A tool does not have the capability to post PDFs. Comments on the submission are below.
Surface runoff has been identified as a factor since the project outset and has been considered by the design team through all phases of the project, even though details regarding land-drainage management have not been shown prominently in the project information. Surface runoff can contribute to geotechnical instability and riverbank erosion; however, additional factors include groundwater conditions, river levels, flow velocities, riverbank slope geometry, ground cover, and soil type, properties, and stratigraphy. The recommended design for this project considers all these factors. On this project, surface runoff is not considered to be the principal causal factor, therefore a solution that only considers surface runoff would be insufficient to achieve the geotechnical stability targets required to protect City assets. Therefore a phased approach is not recommended. Deferral of the recommended stabilization work carries with it a risk that more widespread riverbank failures will occur, and it is more costly to repair failed riverbanks compared to riverbanks that have not yet failed. Therefore deferral of the stabilization work carries with it substantial financial risk.
The City has met with and been in discussion with the Assiniboine Park Conservancy (APC) regarding this project. Discussions with the APC will ensure that the project meets the needs of both the APC and the City. The City will continue to consult with the Assiniboine Park Conservancy as this project progresses.
Thank you for your suggestions related to project oversight. Oversight of this project will be conducted in accordance with the current Administrative Standards as well as Council-adopted policies.
The Class 3 cost estimate for this project includes risk-based contingency amounts of $700,000. The City continues to monitor potential risks posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including potential impacts on construction market conditions. Heavy construction has been designated an essential service. To date there has been minimal impact to the delivery of infrastructure renewal projects. Winter construction is preferred for riverbank work as river conditions are more reliable. Snowstorms are not a significant risk for this project.
Strategy 1 was not advanced because of its higher potential to adversely affect the Assiniboine River and the natural environment. This includes the potential for in-water habitat disruption, the potential for increased river levels under flood conditions, and the potential to increase erosion rates outside the study area.
The City’s goal is to budget the majority of projects based on a Class 3 estimate which requires preliminary study to develop the estimate. The estimates include risk-based contingency allowances. The vast majority of infrastructure renewal projects are completed within the Council approved budget.
Thank you for your input regarding a stairway to allow for public access to the river. As project moves into detailed design, the City will be looking at opportunities to enhance river access and promote public use of the river.
The Q & A tool was chosen for this project to reflect an open house style of event, where questions can be asked of the project team. The Q & A tool is intended to compliment the virtual meetings and City-Engage email address by providing participants with an additional opportunity to connect with the project team and ask questions.
The Q & A tool was chosen to support the type of engagement for this stage of the project: ‘Consult’, which is identified in the Engage Winnipeg Policy as to “share feedback on pre-determined options”. The policy notes the type of engagement must align with the level of public influence on the decision and with the techniques, resources, and time available to undertake engagement.
The City will put in a new feature request with the third-party software developer to include reference numbers in the Q & A tool to make it easier to reference questions.
If you have a question or concern about a specific submission from another user, we invite you to copy and paste the submission in an email along with your question or concern and send it to city-engage@winnipeg.ca.
This platform also has a Forum tool available for discussion between participants. We plan to use the Forum tool in the future when participants are defining or generating options. This project is consulting, so we are looking for feedback on pre-determined options and we are using the Q&A tool to ensure those options are clear.
A preliminary screening was conducted by a Senior Environmental Scientist. It is anticipated that there are no species in the project area that are protected under the federal Species at Risk Act or the provincial Endangered Species and Ecosystem Act. The wildlife species that typically use this area, as noted in your question, are adapted to human disturbance and are expected to return to the area after construction and revegetation works are completed. Tree removal for the project will occur during the winter to mitigate impacts to migratory birds in accordance with the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
As your comment notes, a fish and fish habitat study was conducted because the project has the potential to impact fish and fish habitat that are federally protected under the federal Fisheries Act.
Visit winnipeg.ca/publicengagement to learn about some of the ways we can accommodate those who may need alternative access to engagement or information.
For inquiries or those who require alternate formats, interpretation or any additional accommodations to participate please contact city-engage@winnipeg.ca or (204) 986-4243.
Consult
Share feedback on pre-determined options.