Stabilizing banks in St. Vital Park is high priority

Site prep has begun on the riverbank in St. Vital Park. The real work of stabilization starts Jan. 7 and is expected to be completed by mid-March.

Stabilizing banks in St. Vital Park is high priority
By Matthew Wright
The Lance
December 27, 2007

Fifty metres of eroding riverbank is set to be stabilized by the City in St. Vital Park.
Two excavators were busy last week creating a temporary access to the lower portion of the riverbank where crews will begin the main work on Jan. 7.
“At that time we’ll be installing rock-fill columns to remove the weaker clay soil and replace it with rock filling. This acts as a buttress to fortify the bank,” said City riverbank management engineer Don Kingerski.
The second phase involves providing erosion protection by laying limestone along the river’s edge to prevent soil erosion.
After re-grading the slope, extensive vegetation re-planting will take place in the spring.
Sharon Cave is co-ordinator of the group Walk-on Energizers, a group that promotes active living for all people and proudly calls St. Vital Park their ‘base of operations’.
She said the upgrades are necessary as many of the paths the group uses have been moved away from the river due to the danger posed by being too close to the eroding bank.
“Over the past 10 years we’ve noticed the banks’ deterioration and it’s quite frightening, she said.
“This won’t only benefit our group, but the city and especially the community as well.”
In fact, Kingerski said that during the past year, the riverbanks in the parks have lost up to 10 metres of bank in some areas alone.
Projects that involve riverbanks are normally completed in the winter.
“We have about a three-month window to get this type of work done. The water levels are lower at a more natural state and the frozen bank conditions make access and the actual work a lot easier,” Kingerski said.
He also said that after a 2000 report on the state of City-owned riverfront property, the stabilization of the riverbank in St. Vital Park was one of the report’s top priorities.
The $2 million project is expected to be competed by mid-March.
For traffic re-routing and trail information while construction is going on, check the City’s website at winnipeg.ca/publicworks/Parks