City of Vernon 43rd Street Crossing Replacement

completed

The City of Vernon is proposing to replace the Vernon Creek crossing of 43rd Street, located upstream of the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre (VWRC). This crossing was identified as a constriction in the previous flood mapping, where the existing structure was recommended for replacement as part of the structural mitigation options. NHC identified that access to the VWRC (wastewater treatment plant) is exposed to the future 200-year average recurrence interval (ARI) flood event (design event), with a portion of the facility impacted with considering free board. Three replacement structures have been considered, including two 14 m long horizontal ellipse culverts and a clear span bridge. All three replacement structures require channel widening for a distance of approximately 155 m upstream to increase riverine capacity and reduce flood risk. The recommended waterway consists of a channel with a 5.0 m bottom width, with 2 Horizontal to 1 Vertical (2H:1V) side slopes. The clear span bridge was ranked the highest in the options analysis and is the recommended replacement structure to proceed to detailed design and construction. The clear span bridge replacement project works include; removal of current road/grade, construction of bridge foundations, isolation/diversion of Vernon Creek, removal of existing culvert, channel widening for approximately 155 m upstream, bank protection on both left and right embankments, construction of fish habitat boulder complexes within channel, construction of bridge deck and road works, and lastly site clean up with seeding and riparian planting.