THAT the Chief Administrative Officer and City Clerk BE AUTHORIZED to sign any agreement or applications necessary to achieve the above purposes, subject to the contract being within the approved budget, satisfactory in legal form to the City Solicitor, in financial content to the Chief Financial Officer and City Treasurer, and in technical content to the City Engineer.

Executive Summary:

N/A

Background:

The Gordie Howe International Bridge project includes the project element of a Community Benefits Plan as part of a $20 million (CDN) community infrastructure investment focused on priorities identified through various consultations.

One of the initiatives of significance is the Sandwich Street Community Benefits, which includes road improvements on Sandwich Street between Rosedale Ave. to Ojibway Parkway. This reconstruction of approximately a 3-kilometer stretch of Sandwich St. includes new curbs, sidewalks, trails, new pavement, bike lanes and streetscaping features all of which is to be paid by the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA).

The WDBA has started preliminary designs and coordination; however, they remain in the early stages. City Administration is working closely with WDBA and the P3 proponent (Bridging North America) to ensure all permits and approvals are in place to ensure the successful completion of the work.

Discussion:

Subsequent to the Community Benefits announcements, Administration reviewed the need to upgrade the City's underground infrastructure before the planned surface works as it would be most prudent and cost effective rather than afterwards.

The review identified that many of the approximately 4.2 kilometer of existing sewers (sanitary, storm and combined) within this proposed work zone were over 100 years. Many have a value of Pipe Rating Index of 3 (= risk of failure within a ten to twenty year timeframe). It was identified that approximately 3.5 kilometers of storm, sanitary and combined sewers and their associated manholes, services and private drain connections were over a Pipe Rating Index of 3 that was used as the potential for replacement.

As the project is within an area of high archaeological potential, the method of rehabilitation utilizes trenchless technologies (relining). However, there will be occurrences when full replacement may be required due to the poor condition of the existing sewer.