At its March meeting, Huntsville’s Municipal Heritage Committee accepted a change in materials for replacement of the Brunel Locks retaining walls, one of the final steps required for that project to proceed.
The existing retaining walls are constructed of timbers that have reached the end of their lifespan. Rather than replace them with similar material that would only have a lifespan of 25 years, staff had earlier recommended to Huntsville Council that an engineered block with a lifespan of 65 years be used instead. That suggestion was approved by Council at its March 1 meeting at a cost of $752,100 to be funded from the Town’s reserves. Town staff have applied for a grant to offset half the cost of the project, but have not yet heard if it has been awarded, said Steve Hernen, the Town’s Director of Operations and Protective Services.
The replacement material – a grey, limestone-look segmental concrete block – would match in colour the existing concrete lock structure that was built in the 1990s to replace the previous wooden lift lock system. Only the top 30 to 36 inches of blocks will be visible above the water line.
With Municipal Heritage Committee approval of the material, the retaining wall replacement project just needs final approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources to proceed.
Pending that approval, the project is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2017. The retaining wall replacement would be complete by May of 2018.
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