WATCH ABOVE: The Rosemont storm water upgrade is just one of several similar projects aimed at protecting communities around Calgary. As Carolyn Kury de Castillo reports, that work will also see our utility bills rise over the next several years.
CALGARY – Residents of the north west community of Rosemont are finally going to get some relief when it comes to flooding that’s been happening there for decades.
The Rosemont storm water upgrades are part of several projects around the city that will see our utility bills rise over the next several years.
Rosemont resident Travis Nelson’s remembers dozens of cars ruined by the flooding, among other things.
“You have people across the street where the water is coming in the front window and running out the back and taking everything they owned with them,” Travis Nelson said.
Nelson and his neighbours on Rosehill Drive have been victims of flooded basements and destroyed cars for the past 20 years, because of repeated overflowing of the storm water system there.
Now, work will finally begin on upgrades to Rosemont storm water infrastructure.
A pipe and existing catch bains will be twinned and sections of back alleys that turn to rivers during flash floods will be paved.
“They’ve been experiencing repeated floods to the point where some of them are unable to get insurance so it’s good that we are finally able to get to this project,” Councillor Druh Farrell said.
According to the city’s website, the upgrades will ensure the storm trunk can accommodate peak flows for a one in 100 year rain event, which residents have lived through many times.
“20 some years ago it happened a couple of times and they called it one in 100 years back then and then twice in three days and then three times over five years, so it’s obviously a once every couple years issue,’ Nelson said.
Councillor Druh Farrell has been pushing for funding for storm water upgrades in older communities for years. It wasn’t until recently, that the city approved additional funding for these types of projects through an increase to our utility bills.
“The ratepayer will have to pay but it’s the cost of building a city and how do we tackle these projects more quickly is a struggle,” Nelson said.
One of the next big projects waiting for funding is in Sunnyside. Homeowners there have been victims not only of a flooded Bow River but of old drainage standards.
“We have a number of communities that have been going through repeated floods when there are big rain events,” Councillor Farrell said. “We are also seeing that the weather is getting more severe and it’s hanging over the city longer and so we anticipate with climate change, we’ll be seeing more severe weather and we need to be prepared for it,” Farrell said.
The Rosemont project is expected to start in mid august and will take about 14 weeks to complete.
Traffic will be affected on tenth street, 14th street and Rosehill Drive and Confederation Park usage may be impacted.
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