Work underway along TSW in city

Work is now beginning on a new phase of a major Trent-Severn Waterway project.

Parks Canada is rehabilitating the earth dams along the waterway between Trent University and the Lift Lock.

Contracting firm Cruickshank is carrying out this phase, which will see the removal of vegetation along the Thompson’s Bay earth dam, the Hurdons earth dam (which is along the western shoreline of the canal north of Parkhill Rd.) and the Curtis Creek earth dams along the easter and western shorelines south of Parkhill Rd.

“These projects will strengthen key infrastructure and further reduce the risk of flood damage along the canal corridor through Peterborough,” states a Parks Canada press release.

The contractor will use heavy machinery at times, which may lead to traffic delays in work areas.

Sections of the waterway that run within the city limits feature man-made engineered earth banks, designed to keep water levels stable and protect adjacent neighbourhoods from flooding.

Washouts will be repaired, dam heights will be increased where required, and vegetation will be cleared away.

“During the first phase of the project, trees and shrubs growing along earth dams were removed by Parks Canada staff,” Parks Canada states. “Vegetation is a threat to the long-term integrity of an earth dam as the roots of these plants loosen the soil and create places for seepage and erosion below the surface.”

Once the work is done, Parks Canada plans to bring in new vegetation, including wildflowers, milkweeds and tall grasses, and will work with the city to develop new trails that can be added to the city’s existing trail network.

Parks Canada started working on these dams in 2015. The project is expected to wrap up in 2019.

Work is visible from the Nassau Mills Rd. bridge over the canal, just south of Trent University.