Improvements and upgrades to the ditch and culvert storm water system to improve surface drainage, restore the drainage path and reduce spring melt problems is planned between 2023 and 2024. Drainage improvements will be complete along with water main replacements and road resurfacing to maximize budget and reduce property owner and business impacts.

City Council approved a cost sharing methodology between property owners and the City for non-compliant ditch crossing reconstruction that will be completed with the drainage improvements. You can review the methodology in the Cost Sharing tab.

Completed Engagement

An information session for impacted businesses was held on November 22, 2022. Information on the project was provided and City staff were available to receive comments and answer questions. Conversation topics included construction timelines, access concerns during construction, and the proposed cost sharing method.

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Natural Infrastructure Fund.

The ditch and culvert drainage system along Melville Street, Portage Avenue, and Jasper Avenue right-of-way has deteriorated over the years and the drainage path has been compromised. These drainage path deteriorations have caused spring drainage problems, ponding areas that do not drain, increased maintenance costs to the City and stress to property owners and tenants.

The drainage system in the CN Industrial neighbourhood is part of Saskatoon's green infrastructure system. The drainage route restoration will include an updated drainage ditch system finished with dry land sod, areas of naturalized grass seed mixture, and natural infrastructure improvements to the Cartwright Street Wet Storm Pond.

Upgraded culverts will also be installed at each ditch crossing, along with an improved outlet storm pipe connecting the intersection of Melville Street/Portage Avenue to the Cartwright Street Wet Storm Pond.

Construction is underway and will be complete by October of 2024.

Project Area

• Ditch Improvements
  • Melville Street: Lorne Avenue to CN tracks west of Brand Road
  • Portage Avenue: Melville Street to Edson Street
  • Jasper Avenue: Melville Street to Portage Avenue
• Road Reconstruction
  • Melville Street: Lorne Avenue to Brand Road
• Water Main Replacement
  • Jasper Avenue
• Storm Sewer Outlet Extension
  • Melville-Portage intersection to Cartwright Pond

Questions & Answers

What types of construction will occur during the project?

The CN Industrial Drainage Improvement Project includes restoring ditches and culverts to provide a flow path for storm water, water main replacement, and road reconstruction. Driveways on City-owned right-of-ways will be impacted.

Why is the project occurring?

The CN Industrial Area has a unique network of ditches and culverts to provide a flow path for storm water management. Over time, the effectiveness of the surface drainage has been compromised as new driveways, landscaping, and erosion altered the right-of-ways and contributed to spring melt problems, ponding areas, and drainage path deficiencies.

This proposed project will improve surface drainage by re-constructing the ditches along right-of-ways. The City has applied for external funding to help fund the storm water improvement phases of the project. The outcome of the funding application is not known at this time.

What is the timeline for this project?

• November 2022: engagement
• March-April 2023: contract tendering and award
• April 2023: City Council approved ditch crossing reconstruction cost sharing
• May 2023: construction starts
  • utility alterations
  • drainage improvements
  • watermain replacements
  • road reconstruction
• October 2023: construction ends for the year
• January-March 2024: outlet culvert extension to Cartwright Pond
• May 2023: construction starts
  • utility alterations
  • drainage improvements
  • water main replacements
  • road reconstruction
• October 2024: project completion

My property hasn't flooded and I don't have spring melt problems. Why is a ditch and culvert  being installed in the right-of-way adjacent to my property?

Driveways without culverts and right-of-ways without ditches impede the flow of storm water runoff and snow melt, thereby contributing to flooding and damage for upstream neighbours. This project will provide a clear path for water to flow to the outlet culverts that drain Melville Street.

Runoff storm water storage is also required for the neighbourhood as underground storm sewers are not installed.

How will my driveway be impacted?

A 300 mm culvert will be installed underneath all driveways within the City's right-of-way. Impacted driveway crossings will be restored with the pre-construction material (i.e., a concrete driveway will be restored with concrete) and width.

Property owners that are required to cost share will have the opportunity to reduce the driveway width to lower the cost share amount.

Will the trees on City of Saskatoon right-of-ways be impacted?

Tree preservation will be completed if possible. Tree preservation may cause sections of steep ditch slopes to preserve tree roots.

How steep will the newly constructed ditch be? Will it be difficult to maintain and mow the grass?

The side slopes of the ditches are 3H:1V with the exception of some locations with trees, power poles, utility boxes, or other above ground utility infrastructure. Additional effort to maintain the ditch should be expected for property owners.

Who is responsible for maintaining right-of-way drainage?

The City seeks to minimize property tax impacts by not assuming the responsibility and cost of activities that benefit individual property owners and/or can be carried out cost effectively by citizens. As a result, citizens have the primary responsibility for maintaining the right-of-way area on their property, which includes mowing the grass and keeping drainage paths clear. Property owners who have driveway crossings through the right-of-way are responsible for ensuring the culverts are clear and that drainage is not blocked.

Why aren't underground storm sewers being installed instead of ditches and culverts?

The cost to install underground storm water pipes if very expensive, especially in older areas where there is other underground infrastructure. Property owners in new neighbourhoods pay for those costs through a development levy. Installing storm sewer pipes and catch basins in the street would require redevelopment from the properties (i.e., connecting site drainage  to the storm sewer network). The majority of the properties drain into the existing ditch system, which will be improved through this project.

In 2020, City Council approved sharing for ditch crossing reconstruction within a ditch preservation project similar to the drainage improvements planned for the CN Industrial Neighbourhood. The City will be completing a report to City Council for this project recommending the same cost sharing methodology for ditch crossing reconstruction based on compliance to the existing Private Crossings Bylaw (4785).

City Council approved the following ditch crossing cost sharing criteria for Industrial Sites at its meeting on April 26, 2023.

Interior Industrial Sites

• Sites with frontage less than or equal to 150 ft (45.7 m)
  • The City will pay for 30 ft of asphalt crossing with an underlying culvert if the property has 1 crossing and has a culvert.
  • The City will pay for 40 ft of asphalt crossing if the property has 2 crossings and both crossings have a culvert.
  • Reconstruction costs exceeding the standard amounts above will be cost shared (60% City / 40% property owner).
  • If any crossing does not have a culvert, the property owner will be responsible for the culvert costs. In these situations, the property would still qualify for the standard driveway reconstruction costs.
• Sites with frontage greater than 150 ft (45.7 m)
  • The City will pay for 40 ft of asphalt crossing with an underlying culvert for each crossing that has a culvert.
  • If any crossing does not have a culvert, the property owner will be responsible for the culvert costs. In these situations, the property would still qualify for the standard driveway material reconstruction costs.

Corner Industrial Sites

• If the frontage or flankage is less than or equal to 150 ft (45.7 m)
  • The City will pay for 30 ft of asphalt crossing with an underlying culvert if the property has 1 crossing and has a culvert.
  • The City will pay for 40 ft of asphalt crossing if the property has 2 crossings and both crossings have a culvert.
  • Reconstruction costs exceeding the standard amounts above will be cost shared (60% City / 40% property owner).
  • If any crossing does not have a culvert, the property owner will be responsible for the culvert costs. In these situations, the property would still qualify for the standard driveway reconstruction costs.
• If the frontage or flankage is greater than 150 ft (45.7 m)
  • The City will pay for 40 ft of asphalt crossing with an underlying culvert for each crossing that has a culvert.
  • If any crossing does not have a culvert, the property owner will be responsible for the culvert costs. In these situations, the property would still qualify for the standard driveway material reconstruction costs.

Property owners required to cost share will have the opportunity to decrease their crossing width and/or change driveway surface material to reduce their costs, and/or spread the costs on a property tax deferral program similar to the lead line replacement program.