Construction starts for wastewater plant project

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Those living and working in close proximity to McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt will soon contend with increased traffic and noise levels associated with the Wastewater Treatment Plant construction project.

Officials from the Capital Regional District (CRD) are awaiting building permits before excavation and controlled blasting commence at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) construction site.

The construction site is in close proximity to Work Point’s military barracks, Naval Officer Training Centre, and military housing units.

A spokesperson from the CRD says they anticipate construction to begin ramping up late June with a completion target of 2020.

“We are very mindful that construction does have an impact on the local community, and we are making sure the management team and all our contractors consider the traffic and noise impacts as they plan their work,” said Elizabeth Scott, WWTP Deputy Project Director. “There is a traffic management plan developed by the contractor [Harbour Resource Partners] that had input from the public and was approved in May [2017].”

Scott anticipates increased traffic of approximately 30 trucks hauling excavated material per day along the McLoughlin Point delivery route, which uses Peters Street and Head St. via Esquimalt Road. The majority of blasting and excavation is expected to wrap up late August, after which truck traffic will vary between five and 15 trucks per day, depending on the construction stage, until the project is done in 2020.

Disruptions to traffic on Bewdley Avenue and Anson St. are also expected during geotechnical investigations and construction to accommodate a pipeline that will connect to the existing CRD pumping station at Macaulay Point Park as part of the conveyance system to pump liquid waste to the new treatment plant at McLoughlin Point. 

Construction will also take place along Victoria View, Patricia Way and Peters Street to accommodate utility servicing and as part of the conveyance system to pump residual solids to the new treatment facility in Saanich.

Scott says the Wastewater Treatment Project Team will engage residents throughout the construction project to ensure the community is fully informed on its progress.

Once completed, the $765-million federal, provincial and CRD-funded Seaterra Program will provide Victoria and core area municipalities with its first-ever tertiary treatment for wastewater, and a Residual Treatment Facility for Class A biosolids at Hartland Landfill in Saanich. 

For more information and updates on the Project go to the CRD’s Wastewater Treatment Project webpage: http://wastewaterproject.ca or by email them at wastewater@crd.bc.ca