The City of Kitchener will receive $49.9 million from the federal government to fund several flood mitigation projects.
Waterloo MP and Government House Leader Bardish Chagger made the announcement Wednesday.
The projects will focus on upgrading key components to the city’s stormwater management system, adding stormwater drainage controls in some neighbourhoods and redesigning a natural channel to help manage heavy rainfalls, the city says.
Included in the projects are upgrades the Bridgeport dike and work to replace a section of the Walter Bean River Trail as well.
“This significant investment from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will help ensure our critical infrastructure can withstand these severe weather events and protect Kitchener residents,” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said in a release.
The city will also contribute more than $72 million toward the projects, with additional funds from the Grand River Conservation Authority.
Upgrades will help protect more than 11,500 residents from flooding and “reduce the number of people directly affected by 75 per cent,” the city said in the release.
The work is also expected to reduce local economic losses by 80 per cent, according to the city.
The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is a $2 billion, 10-year federal program that aims to help communities build more infrastructure to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and droughts.