Warm weather a mixed blessing for waterfront work
Posted Mar 12, 2010 By John Nelson
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Tweet ThisEMC News The bulk of the work on Chesterville's waterfront redevelopment project should be completed by the end of the month as the project began in the last week of February.
Under federal infrastructure funding, the township had until the end of March to begin work on the project.
"It's going strong," said North Dundas director of planning Calvin Pol on March 4. "We're on track."
Much of the support structure for the upgraded waterfront which includes a boardwalk, docking areas and other features should be in place by March 12.
"We should be out of the water by month's end," said Mr. Pol. "It depends on the weather. The bulk of the work should be done this month."
While warmer temperatures allow construction crews to get on the job, it also creates some difficulties. Mr. Pol explained that water levels on the South Nation River must be closely monitored adding that ice chunks present a danger as well.
South Nation Conservation is assisting the township and contractor with monitoring conditions on the river.
Mr. Pol said that while the project was moving along smoothly, a change in weather could slow things down, but he had no doubt everything would be ready for summer.
"Definitely by the end of June," he said when asked for an estimated end date for construction.
Plans to revitalize Chesterville's waterfront have been a dream of many for the past 17 years when a plan was first formulated. The redevelopment took a step closer to reality on Sept. 3, 2009 when almost $1.5 million in federal funding was announced for the project.
The new waterfront will include a boardwalk, staircases to street level, a dock, improved fish habitat and other features. It is funded 93% under the federal Community Adjustment Fund. North Dundas Township is on the hook for about $70,000 while the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will chip in $30,000. The community itself is required to raise $5,000.
"This is a great day for the Village of Chesterville and the entire municipality," North Dundas Mayor Alvin Runnalls said back in September. "We've had a tough time since the closure of Nestle's and this announcement brings good news to the community. It will, hopefully, attract more residents to the area."
The revitalization project faced a March 31 deadline to comply with federal regulations and a final version of the project was approved by North Dundas council during a special meeting Feb. 3.
The project approved during the special meeting was a modified version of the original plan. Some changes were made to bring the project under budget and to eliminate concerns about the redevelopment might impact the structural safety of nearby roadways.
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