Environmental necessities will decide how Industrial Avenue berm completed

Construction of the new Industrial Avenue berm will be supervised by an archaeologist, and future phases could be subject to strict environmental regulations, it was revealed at council on Tuesday.

As first reported in the News on Aug. 25, local firm MJB Enterprises had won a $1.23-million contract to build the first phase of the flood defence system this fall.

That will essentially extend protection from the Lion’s Park Berm to a spur rail line about 500 metres south, while a second phase is being delayed while land is being arranged.

At committee level that delay was explained as due diligence, but a briefing note presented to council confirms environmental testing is taking place to fully evaluate land the city is seeking to purchase from private landowners for rightof-way.

Administrators said testing was cautionary but standard in the areas that has seen a variety of industrial uses over the years.

“It’s so that we’re absolutely clear about potential liabilities of land we’re purchasing,” CAO Merete Heggelund told council. “I don’t think it will be drawn out.”

Construction will involve digging about one-metre beneath the base of the planned berm, and possibly disposing of material off site if contamination is discovered.

As for historical aspects, the phase one berm right-of-way runs alongside the national historic site of Medalta Potteries, meaning that excavation could reveal some artifacts.

Also, the city has also been studying though subcommittees the extent of the original indigenous and Métis settlements in south Flats.

MJB previously completed the berm at Harlow and most recently in Riverside. Its bid was the lowest of five received during a three-week tendering process.