In hopes of repairing infrastructure in the community, Edson town council approved up to $1,000,000 to cover repairs for local infrastructure damaged by recent flooding.
Heavy rainfall occurred in Edson and surrounding area on June 14, 19 and 20, 2023. Wase Creek and Bench Creek run through the Town of Edson from the North and West and breached the banks, damaging both private property and Town infrastructure.
“I have had conversations with MLA Martin Long understanding that we are going to need assistance from the province,” says Edson mayor Kevin Zahara. “The fire was one event but the actual damage to our community was caused by the flood. So those conversations will be ongoing.”
“We continue to communicate and we will see how this process goes,” continues Zahara. “We have requested a meeting with Alberta Municipalities to discuss this. We will certainly schedule one earlier if we don’t feel like the provincial government is hearing us on this issue.”
Edson council, along with Engineering Consultants from ISL Engineering and Land Service Ltd. completed field inspections, and the following list of assets have been identified that will need varying levels of repair:
Road and Storm Infrastructure:
- 8 bridges crossing Bench Creek
- 6 Ave road repairs and culvert replacement
- 46 St and 2 Ave catch basin washout
- 48 St and 3 Ave culvert riprap
Parks and Recreation Infrastructure:
- 4 Ave trail bridge
- Hillendale trail bridge
- Willmore Park trail bridge
- Kinsmen Park: Wase Creek undercut in areas and significant sediment deposited on banks surrounding creek
- Wase creek and 5 Ave – bank is washed away and sediment deposited on banks surrounding creek
- Centennial Park has significant sediment deposited on banks surrounding Bench Creek
To date, the 6 Ave road repair and culvert replacement estimate has been submitted and anticipated to be up to $400,000.
