Plans in works to upgrade dyke
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Meetings regarding a bridge to bridge dyke enhancement were held by Urban Systems throughout the afternoon on June 24.
Employees of Urban Systems met with downtown business owners to inform them of plans for the project, and to answer questions from those property owners that could be affected by the proposed development.
The company is currently researching various ideas to improve the dyke area, all which take into account and involve a number of things, including parking, grade levels and river hydrology.
“Currently the dyke is too low for flood levels. It is defined in relation to a one in 200 year flood level,” said Tony Bradwell, a senior landscape architect with Urban Systems. “We will get an idea of what a solution could look like over the next few months.”
Plans to modify the current dyke between the highway 95 bridge and the pedestrian bridge have been in the works since 2007. At that time, a project proposal was submitted to the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General by the Town of Golden.
The initial push for the proposal was due to awareness of the low level of the current dyke, and the risk that this posed for possible flooding in the downtown area. Urban Systems has recently been hired by Golden as a next step in the process, which could help the Town to gain funding for the project.
“We were officially hired over the last six months, but we have been doing general consulting over a longer period,” said Bradwell.
Beautification and opportunities to increase the tourism potential of the area are also being taken into consideration.
The Official Community Plan that was adopted by the Town of Golden refers to future plans for the bridge to bridge dyke area.
“The Town identified, a few years ago in the OCP, that the dyke be part of the town’s tourism potential,” said Bradwell.
Although plans are only in the initial stages, both the Town of Golden and Urban Systems are looking at various options. The options being considered will not only make the area safer in terms of flooding, but will also beautify the area and increase tourism.
“For a long time people have been expressing that they wished downtown focused more on the river,” said Cleo Corbett, Town Planner. “I’m interested in how we can build a dyke that protects and beautifies downtown.”
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