The Ontario government is allocating nearly $20 million to the City of Windsor for enhancing stormwater infrastructure in the eastern part of the city.
On Friday, Windsor-Tecumseh Conservative MPP Andrew Dowie announced a $19.9 million funding initiative aimed at upgrading the infrastructure within the Pontiac Stormwater Pumping Station drainage area, which includes residences south of Sandpoint Beach and Stop 26 along Riverside Drive.
This funding, combined with $7.6 million from the city, will support projects like the East Marash Drainage Redirection and Cedarview Relief Storm Sewer initiatives. These projects are set to focus on road reconstruction, upgrading storm sewer systems, and lowering flooding risks in this drainage area.
Andrew Dowie emphasizes that we can expect more heavy weather events in the future.
“It’s vital that we be protected from that and do what we can to protect people’s property. We cannot forget what happened in the past, and we have to keep on improving,” he says. “The city has done a fantastic job at implementing the sewer master plan and taking its recommendations to heart. This is an opportunity for us, the provincial side, to help support that work.”
Dowie mentions this is his largest involvement in stormwater-wastewater investment so far.
“It will help those living near Sandpoint Beach and around Stop 26 receive much better stormwater protection. There’s always more to do. We’re making progress and are pleased to see this investment,” he adds.
Windsor’s Commissioner of Infrastructure Services, David Simpson, notes they are addressing an outdated storm sewer system in Riverside.
“It’s been undersized and never designed for significant wet weather events we’ve experienced back in 2016 and 2017. Essentially, we’ll be going in and significantly upsizing those critical core trunk sewers,” he explains.
The design and construction phase for this project is expected to take about a year and a half to finish.
The following roads will be included in the East Marsh Drainage Redirection project:
-Florence Avenue from Wyandotte Street East to Riverside Drive East
-Menard Street from Florence Avenue to Elinor Street
-Clover Street from Clairview Avenue to Wyandotte Street East
-Clairview Avenue from Clover Street to Adelaide Avenue
-Elinor Street from Clairview Avenue to Wyandotte Street East
-John M Street from Clairview Avenue to Menard Street
-Clairview Avenue from Clover Street to Florence Avenue
The funding comes through the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program designed specifically for protecting homes and communities against extreme weather events like flooding.
In addition, separate from this funding initiative, plans are underway for upgrading the Pontiac Stormwater Pumping Station with tenders expected later this year.
