Black Rapids funded for upgrades
Posted Feb 19, 2010 By Charelle Evelyn
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Tweet ThisEMC News - The Black Rapids lockstation, north of Manotick, will be receiving an upgrade thanks to an investment from the federal government.
Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poillievre announced the $1.1 million in funding for site reconstruction at Watson's Mill Feb. 4. The money is delivered through Canada's Economic Action Plan. The government has set aside $374 million for improvements of facilities and protection of Canada's national parks and national historic sites.
The money will "not only help preserve and improve this treasured place," Mr. Poilliever said in a press release, "it will also provide local construction jobs and stimulate the economy."
Parks Canada will use the funding to replace repair masonry walls and original timber lock gates, which are starting to decay.
"Some of the stone is damaged and needs to be repaired," said Dean Hamilton, an engineer for the Rideau Canal with Parks Canada.
There will also be upgrades made to the hydraulic operating system, which was installed in 1969.
"We're going to bring that up to modern standards," Mr. Hamilton said, adding that the work is mainly preventative as there have been no public safety issues with the lockstation yet.
"We're getting to it before it happens," he said.
The gates are due to be replaced because of their age, and the upgrades to the hydraulic system are for operational reliability, Mr. Hamilton explained.
The work at Black Rapids will begin once navigation season is over Mr. Hamilton said.
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