In 2013, the District of West Vancouver adopted an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP) to address concerns of overland flooding within the watershed area referred to as the Five Creeks, for the benefit of both existing and future neighbourhoods below and above the Upper Levels Highway. The name Five Creeks comes from the fact that the watershed contains Pipe, Westmount, Cave, Turner, and Godman Creeks.

This plan calls for a stormwater pipe to run through the Westmount and Altamont neighbourhoods from north of the Upper Levels Highway down to the Burrard Inlet at the foot of 31st Street.

The new stormwater pipe will address concerns related to flooding and erosion by diverting excess stormwater out of the creeks during extreme weather events, safely conveying the flow into the ocean.

The project entails the construction of a large-diameter stormwater pipe that will run from above the Upper Levels Highway, down to a new outfall at the Burrard inlet. Intake structures installed on the creeks will capture any significant stormwater that will overflow the creek banks and divert the excess flow into the pipe. 

Managing storm-level flows within these creeks will reduce the impacts of intense storms in Westmount and Altamont—both present-day levels and anticipated increasing levels of severity due to climate change.

The project's construction will be broken down into sections and completed in phases. In order to reduce the duration of disruption as much as possible, there may be times when multiple crews will be working at different sections of the project. Construction will include the following:

• Water main relocation along 3200 to 3300 block of Westmount Road, Benbow Road between Thompson Place to Westmount Road, Thompson Crescent between Mathers Avenue to Thompson Place, and 3100 to 3200 block of Mathers Avenue.
• Large diameter storm pipe (approximately 1.8 meters to 3.0 meters) installation under 31st Street, Mathers Avenue and Westmount Road, in the Westmount and Altamont Neighbourhoods.
• Stormwater outfall to Burrard Inlet at the foot of 31st street.
• Storm diversion pipe and creek intake structures above the Upper Levels Highway.

Five Creeks Flood Protection Main Leg Drawing

Five Creeks Flood Protection East Leg Drawing

The District completed an Integrated Stormwater Management Plan (ISMP) in 2013 that identified 18 existing culverts and 24 existing channel sections below the Upper Levels Highway as being inadequate to safely convey high flow storm runoff. 

In addition, the ISMP indicated that the creeks within the watershed may not have sufficient capacity to handle extreme natural storm events—which are increasing due to climate change— without flooding and significant erosion of the creeks. To reduce the risk of flooding, it was determined that the best solution is a new stormwater pipe that to collect excess water from the creeks and safely convey this stormwater directly to the ocean.

The project is required to reduce in-stream impacts on existing homes, many of which were built within stream setbacks and even on top of creeks. The stormwater diversion eliminates the need for the District to upgrade or replace the existing under-capacity culverts and channels.

Purpose

The purpose of this storm diversion project is to contain extreme stormwater flows from the watersheds of Pipe Creek, Westmount Creek, Cave Creek, Turner Creek and Godman Creek before they can impact the Rodgers Creek, Westmount and Altamont neighbourhoods. 

Benefit

The project will increase the level of flood protection for approximately 800 homes below the Upper Levels Highway and reduce erosion hazards, protect life and property in these neighbourhoods, and protect the watershed health of the Five Creek drainage areas.

Description of work

• Water main relocates followed by complete road reconstruction and resurfacing.
• Storm diversion pipe and intake structures.
• Blasting may be required in some areas during construction due to the topography and natural ground conditions of the area, a pre-blasting survey will be conducted by the blasting company for all residents located within 50 meters of a proposed blasting site, access to the residence is required (for a complete per blast survey).
• Road reconstruction resurfacing, with sidewalk installation.
• Boulevard restoration.

Construction Details and Schedule

Area Map of 2019 Work

Construction of a large infrastructure project will have an impact on the neighbourhood. It will create inconvenience for residents. However, the inconvenience is temporary and the District is working to minimize the impact as much as possible.

Construction work will be broken down into stages; each stage will be finished before the contractor can move along to the next one. There will be times during the construction of the water main relocate that two construction crews will be working concurrently.

This will limit the amount of time the construction directly impacts each resident.

Traffic management and pedestrian safety

Onsite traffic control persons will manage pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle safety through the construction zone.

Please remember that traffic control persons and signage are there for your safety, as well as the safety of the construction workers. Please respect all signage and personnel.

Construction hours will follow the District’s Noise Control Bylaw. Construction will be permitted from are 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, or Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. as required to complete work on schedule.

During water main relocate construction:

• The work will require single lane alternating traffic.
• Traffic control persons will be on-site during construction hours to help facilitate access for local traffic and any emergency vehicles.
• Parking will be restricted on the road and boulevards during the construction
• Temporary no parking signs will be installed prior to the work
• Local residents will receive additional notifications prior to start of any traffic disruptions within that phase.

During stormwater diversion construction:

• Traffic control personnel will be on site to accommodate necessary detours and to help facilitate access for local traffic and any emergency vehicles during construction hours.
• No through road permitted for local and non-local traffic.
• A minimum of one controlled access point will be provided for local residents within the affected road segment.
• Residents within the active construction stage area may only use the designated controlled access point.
• Safe residential access (both pedestrian and vehicular) is considered very important and delays will be limited 10 minutes or less.
• Road closures will remain in effect after hours, with access restricted to single-lane vehicular traffic for local traffic only.
• Parking will be restricted on the road and boulevards during the construction.
• Temporary no parking signs will be installed prior to the work.
• Local residents will receive additional notifications prior to start of any traffic disruptions within that phase.

Traffic Management Plan for the stormwater diversion construction

Due to the construction  along 31st Street, the 253 will be re-routed to 24th Street, along Mathers and up to Highway 1. Bus stops in the construction area will be temporarily inactive. We first considered a detour route through Hillcrest but, after listening to concerns voiced by residents, the 253 was re-routed to 24th Street.

Bus #253 detour maps

Detour for #253 Caulfield bus (map provided by Blue Bus)

Detour for #253 Caulfeild bus (map provided by Coast Mountain Bus Company)

Transit users will be able to take the #250 and #250a Horseshoe Bay buses which travel along Marine Drive and transfer to the rerouted #253 Caulfield bus.

The #250a Horseshoe Bay bus runs every 8 to 12 minutes throughout the day and during peak periods sometimes as often as every 6 minutes.

Expect delays especially during peak hours of 7–9 a.m. and 3–5:30 p.m.