Journal Staff
City officials are warning the shoreline protection in Bright’s Grove is “severely deteriorating” following the collapse of two more sections of seawall.
One breach is directly behind Bright’s Grove elementary school where high waves from Lake Huron pulled out a piece of the steel retaining wall, causing the steep bank behind it to collapse.
Barricades have been erected beside the adjacent walking trail and the school’s students and staff advised. Families are urged to warn children about the danger of playing near the unstable bank.
Another section of shoreline protection has failed between Marion Avenue and Centre Street. Erosion is occurring in numerous spots behind 50 metres of rusted-out seawall, just west of Cow Creek.
In a Dec. 1 report to council, city engineer Andre Morin said a contractor has been mobilized to make emergency repairs at both locations, at an estimated cost of less than $100,000.
But Morin notes the repairs are only temporary, and no money is available either from city coffers or government agencies to build a secure revetment of large tiered armour stones.
“It is critical to note that the walls in these areas are well beyond their useful life and will continue to see failures,” he said.
Following years of near historic low water levels Lake Huron has risen about 10 inches in the past two years.
The city made temporary repairs to least six breaches in the shoreline protection since then.