Deux-Montagnes, February 11, 2019 – As of Friday, February 8, the City Deux-Montagnes has obtained official authorization by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change (MELCC) to build a dike along the Lac des Deux-Montagnes shoreline.
City of Deux-Montagnes gets green lightfor dike project to prevent future flooding
Deux-Montagnes Mayor Denis Martin enthusiastically welcomed news of the long-awaited permission. “Construction of this dike is essential to protect Deux-Montagnes residents against flooding,” he said. “We don’t want our residents to go through another disaster like the one in the spring of 2017.”
“Needless to say, I’m delighted for the residents and city of Deux-Montagnes,” said Quebec Minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change Benoit Charette, commenting on the project. “I’ve been supportive of Mayor Denis Martin and his administration from day one. They’ve been working incredibly hard to prevent future flooding. Last September, I promised to make sure that the next government would issue the necessary authorizations. I’m proud to have helped this issue toward a resolution.”
The City of Deux-Montagnes has been in contact with MELCC officials since the summer of 2017, just a few weeks after the major flood that severely damaged some 600 residences, 30 of which had to be demolished.
In the fall of 2017, it was agreed with MELCC that the city would produce a feasibility study as a first step toward construction of a dike along Lac des Deux-Montagnes. The City also commissioned a hydraulic analysis and impact study, and these studies were submitted to the ministry late in the fall of the same year.
The various studies required (geotechnical report, topographic, floristic, and faunal characterizations) and the final plans and estimates for obtaining the authorization certificate were commissioned by the City of Deux-Montagnes in spring 2018 based on a call for tenders.
Throughout 2018, we received a great deal of support from various official bodies, including the Deux-Montagnes RCM, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, and the Montreal Metropolitan Community. The City of Deux-Montagnes also organized public consultations with local residents concerning the dike project.
After more than 12 months of back-and-forth discussions with MELCC officials, the City has officially obtained permission to go ahead with the project for a dike and retaining walls.
On receiving the authorization certificate last Friday, the City of Deux-Montagnes immediately issued a call for tenders to select a contractor to carry out the work. The project will be conducted in accordance with sound engineering practices and in compliance with applicable environmental standards.
