A provincial investment in Alberton’s storm water system will reduce local flooding and protect valuable local shellfish grounds, says Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar.
“This spring we will release tenders seeking bids on construction of two sections of storm sewer running from Argyle and Poplar Streets to Cascumpec Bay,” said the Minister.
“Our government is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the development of green infrastructure in Island communities. By improving the town’s ability to deal with storm water, we are helping to keep streets from flooding and reducing the chance of storm water infiltrating Alberton’s sanitary sewer system and causing overflows.”
The current storm water system relies on a single 750 mm outflow pipe. During periods of heavy precipitation and spring runoff, surface water has occasionally escaped into the nearby sanitary sewer system and caused the escape of untreated water. This can lead to closures of the local shellfishery.
“The shellfishery is an important economic generator in West Prince. I’m pleased that government’s infrastructure investment will protect this important resource,” said Minister Biggar.
Alberton Mayor Michael Murphy welcomed the project.
“The province’s investment in the storm sewer upgrade will help protect two of Alberton’s streets from flooding while also reducing the chance our waste water will hurt local fishers,” said the mayor. “With heavy storms and snowfalls becoming more common, it’s important that our town infrastructure can handle run-off safely and cleanly.”
Alberton- Roseville MLA Pat Murphy said the project meets a long-standing local need.
“I am very pleased to see the Province taking action on this. This has been a problem for quite some time and the new system will be very beneficial for the town” said MLA Murphy.
“I want to thank the Minister of Transportation, Energy, and Infrastructure and the Mayor of Alberton for their commitment to addressing this issue”.
The new system will add two 500-metre long sections of 1200 mm storm water pipe to convey water from Argyle and Poplar Streets. At the same time the elevation of both streets will be raised. This extra drainage capacity will allow the storm sewers to deal with six times as much flow as the old system.
Work on the new system is expected to be complete during the summer of 2016.