District of Squamish receives $3.9 million in Federal Gas Tax funding for Squamish River dike upgrades

The District of Squamish has been successful in a grant application and is being awarded up to $3.9 million through the Federal Gas Tax Fund. The grant will fund the full estimated cost to upgrade 1.2 kilometres of Squamish River dike at the Upper Judd Slough in the Brackendale area. Work on the project is expected to begin this summer.

“This is a huge win for the Squamish community,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “Community resiliency and sustainability, including climate change adaptation, is paramount for the District of Squamish. We are achieving this by investing in our flood protection infrastructure and reducing our vulnerability to flooding. We thank our federal and provincial government partners for these federal funds that will enable us to achieve our goals of becoming a healthier, more resilient community.”

Identified in the District of Squamish Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan (IFHMP) as the highest priority project to bring Squamish’s dikes up to increasing provincial standards, the District’s dike raising project is expected to significantly reduce the risk of flooding and protect residential, commercial and environmentally sensitive areas within the community including Brackendale, Garibaldi Estates and Squamish Nation reserve lands. The project will also protect critical transportation infrastructure including Highway 99 and CN Rail.

The upgrades include raising approximately 1.2 kilometres of dike by up to 1.5 metres and improving existing erosion protection work. Implementing these upgrades will enhance community safety and mitigate the environmental and economic risks to residents of Squamish, creating a strong and resilient community and region.

“Communities across BC are looking for funding to replace, upgrade and expand local infrastructure,” says President of Union of BC Municipalities, Director Wendy Booth. “The federal Gas Tax Fund is accelerating the pace of infrastructure renewal through the transfer of close to $3 billion since 2005 for projects in our province. I appreciate the Government of Canada’s long-term commitment to fund priorities identified by BC local governments.”

“Improvements to local infrastructure are so important. They make our communities even better places to live,” says B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson. “We are pleased to partner with local governments and the federal government to improve the daily lives of British Columbians.”

Background:

See all projects funded through this intake here.

Further details regarding the dike upgrade project and impacts to area residents will be shared in advance of the project start date. Stay tuned to squamish.ca for further information.

To learn more about the federal Gas Tax Fund visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html

March 9, 2018

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