Brampton secures federal funding towards city’s flood protection project
Published November 18, 2020 at 12:04 pm
Today (Nov. 18), Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, joined area MPs and Members of City Council, to announce that the City of Brampton will receive over $38 million towards flood mitigation in its downtown area.
The City’s application Downtown Brampton Flood Protection Project has been approved by the Government of Canada and will move the city one step closer toward its Riverwalk project, a two-part solution to removing flood risks and creating a new, open urban space that will help revitalize Brampton’s downtown to make it more sustainable.
This City’s application approval follows the successful review of the project under the terms and conditions of the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF).
Some key elements of this project include the widening of a 600-metre concrete channel through downtown Brampton as well as replacing bridges and raised roadways.
The current channel, which was built in 1952, will be widened and deepened to increase Etobicoke Creek capacity levels.
Additionally, bridges in the project area will be replaced with larger span structures and higher roadways to prevent flooding into urban areas.
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Federal funding of the project from the DMAF will be up to 40 per cent of the total eligible project costs, to a maximum federal contribution of $38,852,397.
A complementary open space plan for Riverwalk is also currently being developed.
The Riverwalk Area Urban Design Master Plan is an open space master plan aimed to develop concepts for the aesthetic treatment of the flood infrastructure, the open space system along the valley, integration of active transportation network, environment and economic sustainability, public health issues and programming, and the implementation of the overall vision for Riverwalk.
The Riverwalk is expected to unlock 3.6 million square feet of residential, commercial and retail space in the downtown, creating more than 23,000 jobs and a $1.4 billion impact on the GDP.
“Brampton City Council is committed to unlocking the potential of downtown Brampton and being a Green City that is strong, resilient and sustainable,” said Mayor Patrick Brown.
“This is a much welcome announcement from the Government of Canada, as it will not only move us one step closer to realizing the transformational Riverwalk project, but will also revitalize our community and put Brampton on the map for its innovative and impactful solution to mitigating flood risk, generating development and creating jobs, and improving public space for all to enjoy.”
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