City Builds for Resilient Future, Accelerates Infrastructure Renewal

April 19, 2021

This week, crews will break ground on a $53.8 million 10-year accelerated renewal of critical infrastructure, with funding support from the Government of Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. 

“It's important to invest in infrastructure projects that help communities better prepare for natural disasters like floods and earthquakes,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change on behalf of Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “I’m pleased to see these upgrades getting underway to protect residents, businesses, and the beautiful coastal city from impacts of seismic and climate-related events. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive and more resilient communities.”

Accelerating the replacement and rehabilitation of water distribution, sanitary sewer and stormwater systems will help keep the City’s underground assets in good condition, reduce future infrastructure cost and repairs, and create a more climate resilient city. The Government of Canada is contributing more than $15.3 million to this program through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF).

“Victoria has some of the oldest underground infrastructure in Canada - there are pipes installed more than 100 years ago,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. “These upgrades will ensure safe, reliable service for our growing city and help protect critical underground infrastructure from earthquakes and a changing climate, such as sea level rise and extreme storms.”

The first Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation project will take place along Cook Street from Hilda Street to McClure Street, with the next upgrades slated for Superior Street, Yates Street and Dallas Road later this spring, summer and fall.

2021 DMAF underground infrastructure renewal projects include:

  • Sanitary Sewer Main Replacement
    • Cook Street - Hilda Street to McClure Street (Spring 2021)
  • Stormwater Main Replacement
    • Superior Street – Oswego Street to Menzies Street (Spring 2021)  
    • Dallas Road – west of St. Charles Street (Summer 2021)

  • Water Main Replacement (part of the Downtown Fire Protection Program)
    • Yates Street - Quadra Street to Cook Street (Summer/Fall 2021)
    • Cook Street - Yates Street to Pandora Avenue (Summer/Fall 2021)

Local residents and businesses will be notified in advance of the work, and resident access will be maintained during any temporary road closures. The City is coordinating works with other improvements such as road paving, sidewalk replacements and accessibility upgrades, and will use less disruptive construction methods, including trenchless rehabilitation whenever possible.

Over the next 10 years, the City will increase capital infrastructure investments by 40 per cent, allocating a total of $53.8 million for 78 capital infrastructure projects to protect the health and resiliency of our community and the environment.

Learn more about the City's Underground Asset Renewal Program.

For more information on federal infrastructure funding, visit: infrastructure.gc.ca.