Flood protection work downtown kicks off Riverwalk project construction in Brampton

Shovels are officially in the ground on Brampton’s multi-million dollar Riverwalk revitalization project, starting with flood protection measures downtown.

Construction kicked off on Friday, marking the first phase of the more than $200 million Riverwalk project that’s been in development for nearly a decade.

Called the Downtown Brampton Flood Protection Project, the work will help protect Brampton from floods by deepening and widening the Etobicoke Creek Channel, the city says.

Once complete, the new flood prevention measure will surpass the province’s Regulatory Flood Standards and will be able to withstand storm events with approximately 285 millimetres over 48 hours – equivalent to or greater than Hurricane Hazel, the city says.

Early construction will begin in the coming weeks and stretch into the spring 2028. Phase two will see the construction of new parks, open spaces, trails, homes and business areas along the Etobicoke Creek through to 2030 and beyond.

Brampton’s worst flood happened in March of 1948, when the downtown was submerged in nearly 2 metres of water, which led to the construction of the Etobicoke Creek diversion and channel.

The city says the Riverwalk revitalization is expected to bring housing for over 17,000 new residents, create 23,800 new jobs, and “unlock 3.6 million square feet of new residential, retail and commercial space for development.”

Other “complementary projects” underway downtown include the city’s Ken Whillans Square and Garden Square redevelopment projects, which will bring a giant LED screen to Garden Square and the “Shimmer Stage” to Whillans Square – a combination art piece, performance area, and digital screen with an overhead shade canopy.

The city said in 2017 that the project was expected to cost some $200 million, and this year’s Brampton budget included $15 million for the Riverwalk project.