Sturgeon Creek diversion channel work to begin

LEAMINGTON — At the October 13 meeting of Leamington Council, a tender was awarded to Rudak Construction for work on the Sturgeon Creek diversion channel.

Rudak was one of eight tenders to be submitted for the job, and they had the lowest tender. This will be their first time doing work for the municipality.

Sturgeon Creek provides drainage to 7200 acres of farmland, rural residential and roads in Leamington and parts of Kingsville.

As part of the Sturgeon Creek Drainage Plan, prepared in 1988 and 1990, it was deemed necessary to divert waterflow in Sturgeon Creek away from the Selkirk Drain, particularly from the north and west parts of Leamington.

As a result, the new Sturgeon Creek diversion channel will be constructed, beginning as soon as possible. The new channel will hook up with Sturgeon Creek just south of Rd. 1 near Gore Hill School and run through farmland in a southerly direction, emptying into the Sturgeon Creek basin.

About 52,000 square metres of clay will be removed to create the channel, and that clay will be used to reinforce the Marentette and East Marsh dykes.

Cost of the project ($2,711,897) came in above the budgeted amount of $2,067,000.