A $2-million grant to alleviate flooding on lower Third Avenue could spell relief for the 50 homeowners and 35 businesses impacted by winter storm floods.
City councillors will discuss the grant application at their meeting on Monday, Jan. 24.
City engineer Guy Cicon’s recommendation would see the capacity of the existing bypass channel improved and a bypass structure installed to reroute excess water from Dry Creek.
The bypass would take excess flood water along a 360-metre long subsurface route following Napier Street, and pour it back into the stream below Third Avenue.
If the application is successful, then it would be underwritten three ways.
The feds and province would pay for $1.5-million of the project, and the city would borrow money to pay its $760,000.
The project would be completed in two parts between summer 2011 and summer 2012.
The lower Third Avenue area has had a history of problems with flooding.
In November 2006, the flooding was so severe that a four block radius of homes and businesses had to be shut down. A major street was closed and there was damage to buildings, lost revenue and traffic disruption.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com