A provincial grant will help pay for a footbridge to improve access to the Town’s water treatment plant during emergencies.
The Province approved a grant for just over $1.6 million from the Alberta Community Resilience Program to build a footbridge from the roof of the water treatment plant to the escarpment behind the plant, in the Woodhaven area. The funding covers 90 per cent of the total bill.
“When we get a flood, our water treatment plant becomes an island,” said Marley Oness, Okotoks engineering manager. “It’s surrounded by water, and the only way you can get personnel in and out is to fly them in by helicopter, which is what we’ve had to do in at least two flood events.”
Building a footbridge would allow personnel and supplies to access the plant, he said. It would not be open to public access at this time, he said.
Okotoks Town council voted to provide the remaining 10 per cent funding, a total of $182,400, at its meeting June 9.
“I think the new bridge will make some of our town employees who had to be flown in during 2013 much more comfortable at work,” said Coun. Ray Watrin.
The expenditure was also supported by Town CAO Elaine Vincent, who said allotting the requested funds to the project made good fiscal sense.
“I support this amendment as with minimal municipal investment, we are able to secure 90 per cent grant funding for critical infrastructure to ensure community resilience,” Vincent wrote in the council report.
With funding secured, Oness said the Town will find consulting engineers to complete a detailed design this fall, and the construction of the bridge should go to tender early in 2018. The bridge should be built by the end of summer next year, he said.
