FAQs
What are the project limits?
The project limits are: Abbey Dawn Road from Highway 2 northerly 350 m; St. Lawrence Avenue from Highway 2 to Treasure Island; and the section of Highway 2 bounded by these roads.
What is the purpose of the project?
Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2 and St. Lawrence Avenue have been significantly impacted by changing water levels in the St. Lawrence River and the Madoma Marsh, including overtopping by high water and wind events. Flood protection measures for each roadway will include some combination of raising the road elevation, installing new or larger culverts, and shoreline upgrades. Lookout features from the City’s approved Waterfront Master Plan on St. Lawrence Avenue and Abbey Dawn Road are also included in the scope of work for this project.
What is a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) and what does it mean for this project?
MCEA is a planning process for municipal infrastructure, legislated by the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This MCEA Study is being conducted as a Schedule B project under the Municipal Class EA document (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, and 2015).
The MCEA Study will determine the design and staging for the enhanced flood protection measures and consider their effects on the natural, social and cultural environments.
What work is being conducted on each of the roads?
Flood protection measures for each roadway will include some combination of raising the road elevation, installing new or larger culverts, and shoreline upgrades. Lookout features from the City’s approved Waterfront Master Plan on St. Lawrence Avenue and Abbey Dawn Road are also included in the scope of work for this project.
When will construction start?
Construction is planned to start in 2022, assuming all required permissions/clearances have been obtained from regulatory authorities. The project timeline is available on Get Involved Kingston.
What will be the impact of the project on the natural environment?
Any significant grade raise of the roadways will likely necessitate a new footprint in the adjacent wetland or St. Lawrence River watercourse; however, it is the City’s intent to provide habitat connectivity, protection, and enhancement for local wildlife as part of this project. In addition, our consulting team will complete all required environmental investigative work and obtain permissions/clearances from provincial and federal regulatory authorities such as the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), and Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) to ensure that the short-term construction, long-term solution, and associated monitoring activities are carried out in an environmentally responsible manner.
Who will be paying the cost of these improvements?
The City of Kingston has capital budget allocated for the design and construction of this project, sponsored in part by the Government of Canada with an investment of over $9.8 million for City-wide shoreline upgrades through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund program.