CLIENT: City of Vernon
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI’s multidisciplinary team supported the City of Vernon to undertake flood hazard mitigation upgrades, including replacement of a bridge and flood hazard mitigation along a 100 m section of Vernon Creek. PRI undertook geotechnical, structural and hydrotechnical engineering design, environmental services, traffic design, landscape architecture, irrigation design, environmental management, tender support, permitting, monitoring, and construction inspections. The work was successfully completed in 2024, with follow up monitoring underway. PRI coordinated with and worked along side archeologists and First Nations monitors to address project requirements.
CHALLENGE:
The project presented several unique challenges that the project team overcame with excellent communication and strong collaboration, both within and outside of the team. The design process was complex and iterative, due to multiple utilities and property uses converging at the bridge crossing, including overhead and underground utilities, industrial operations, a municipal waste water treatment facility, community housing facilities, a fish bearing stream, riparian habitat and a multi-use pathway. The first challenge on the environmental management side involved negotiating with DFO who was opposed to the proposed alterations to the creek channel for flood hazard mitigation. PRI liaised with DFO to develop a project scope and compensation plans to meet the requirements of a DFO authorization. Other challenges included addressing contaminated groundwater discovered during excavation for utilities.
APPROACH:
PRI undertook comprehensive liaison with regulatory authorities to reach a common ground and worked with project partners and stakeholders to address project objectives and concerns. We provided timely and strategic guidance and nurtured positive relationships, with contractors and other consultants, to achieve common objectives and project compliance.
OUTCOME:
Ecora succesfully obtained a Water Sustainabilty Act Approval and a DFO Authorization on behalf of the City. We provided environmental management and compliance montoring during construction, which included addressing contaminated sites issues, dewatering, creek diversion, and fish salvage. The project resulted in upgrades to a 100 m long section of Vernon Creek, reduction in locatized flood hazard potential, creation of salmon spawning and restoration of 2000 m2 of riparian habitat.