THUNDER BAY — Pedestrians have been using the new walkway atop the Boulevard Lake Dam for about 10 days now.
But on Wednesday, city and federal government representatives gathered to officially dedicate the $8.5 million project.
The reconstruction of the 114-year-old dam started in June 2020.
Besides a wider walkway, the work included extensive concrete repairs, new post-tension tendons for structural stability, and new mechanical gates that allow for more refined dam operations.
Aesthetic improvements include new lighting along the walkway, and a public viewing area and pergola made from materials salvaged from the original dam.
City project engineer Mike Vogrig said lighting has also been installed on the buttresses facing Cumberland Street, but it still needs to be programmed.
He said an automation company will be brought in to complete the electrical work and programming, hopefully before Christmas.
The dam needed rehabilitation because of extensive deterioration, and to meet provincial regulatory requirements under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act.
It is designed to withstand the impact of an extremely intense rainstorm and provide stormwater protection for downstream properties.
The project is part of the city's $33 million Community Flood Mitigation initiative, of which 40 per cent is funded by the federal government.
