The district of Squamish has been awarded $3.9 million for dike upgrades by the federal government’s Gas Tax Fund.
“This is a huge win for the Squamish community,” said Mayor Patricia Heintzman in a statement. “Community resiliency and sustainability, including climate change adaptation, is paramount for the District of Squamish.”
The upgrades needed, according to the District’s Integrated Flood Hazard Management Plan, include raising 1.2 kilometre of dike up to 1.5 metres and improvements to erosion protection work.
The District said the dike raising project will reduce the risk of flooding in areas like Brackendale, Garibaldi Estates and Squamish Nation reserve lands.
The project will also protect infrastructure including Highway 99 and CN Rail.
The total estimated cost of the upgrades is $3,899,000.
The federal government’s Gas Tax Fund is a pool of over $2 billion for projects across Canada. This year, 108 projects have been approved in B.C. and four have been conditionally approved, accounting for $193 million from the federal Gas Tax Fund.
Squamish was also awarded $20,000 for their wastewater treatment plan.
Whistler received close to $1.6 million for two seperate infrastructure projects.
