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Ruskin Powerhouse Slope Repair Project

Ruskin Dam

Area notices

Temporary reopening of picnic area and parking

Starting June 30, 2023, the Ruskin Dam picnic site and parking area will temporarily re-open for public use this summer.

The site was closed to the public in late March, in preparation for work to begin on this project in April. Construction was delayed. As we continue to finalize planning, we will temporarily re-open the site for public use.

What we're doing

We need to fix two small sinkholes that have formed in the slope behind Ruskin Dam's powerhouse.

Why we're doing it

We believe increased seepage of rainwater from weather events over the past couple of years may have caused the sinkholes to form. While there are no immediate public safety concerns and the facility is not at risk, it's important for us to be proactive and make necessary repairs.

Timeline

Construction is targeted to begin on September 5, 2023 and will continue for approximately one year. Construction will be limited to the site of the sinkholes and is expected to take place Monday to Friday during the daytime. Some weekend work (also during daytime hours) may be required to meet our project timelines. No overnight work is expected at this time.

Minimizing community impacts

We don't anticipate any outages to nearby customers related to this work. Ruskin Dam will continue to provide clean power to our power system while we make repairs. Traffic impacts on Hayward Street are expected to be minimal. There may be short, occasional traffic delays as equipment is brought into the work site. We'll use traffic control and signage to ensure the safety of the public and our crews.

Ruskin Picnic Area closure

The Ruskin Picnic Site and parking area is targeted to close when we're ready to proceed with construction on September 5, 2023. The area will be an active construction site throughout the repair and will be needed for equipment, construction materials, and crews.

  • The closure may last up to a year as we work to safely repair the sinkholes.
  • Nearby trails remain open and accessible.
  • Hayward Lake and Stave Lake recreation areas remain open.

If we require the site prior to September 5, we'll provide notice as early as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make repairs to ensure that the Ruskin Dam will continue to be able to generate safe, clean electricity for decades to come.

Contact

Email: projects@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 623 4472
Toll free: 1 866 647 3334