Updated May 2020
The City of Toronto is planning to construct a new storm trunk sewer system in the Fairbank-Silverthorn area. This new sewer system was recommended by the Investigation of Chronic Basement Flooding – Study Area 3 Environmental Assessment, completed in 2010. The Project includes:
This work is part of the City of Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Program to help reduce the risk of future basement flooding.
Under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), the federal government is providing up to $73.2 million in funding for the Fairbank Silverthorn Storm System project. The City if Toronto will contribute the remainder of project costs.
The soil, survey and various other investigations for this project are currently on going. The first construction contract to install Inlet Control Devices (ICDs) at up to 55 catchbasins will be issued in January 2020.
The preliminary design for the project completed in 2015. The main tunnel size was increased due to additional storm sewers required in the area. The preliminary design also identified significant property impacts. Due to increased cost and risks due to underground utilities and anticipated timelines for property acquisitions, the City engaged a third-party consultant to peer review the design and reduce property impacts.
Only sub-surface easements are now required. The City also changed the delivery model from design-build to design-bid-build. This will allow design to be completed with detailed utility investigation and time to acquire sub-surface easements.
Construction for this project will occur between 2021 to 2025 through multiple construction contracts.
The City of Toronto is planning to install 55 Inlet Control Devices (ICDs) at the existing road catch basins to alleviate basement flooding. The ICDs restrict the rain water entering the combined sewer system through the catch basins on road and reduce the risk of combined sewer from being full, thus reducing risk of basement flooding. The ICD installation will increase the temporary surface ponding on the street due to reduced rain water going to the combined sewer.
The Fairbank Silverthorn Basement Flooding Protection Project includes:
ICDs control the rain water going to the combined sewer and instead storing it on surface on road. ICDs are part of the project and are required to ensure the sewer system is not surcharging. The main tunnel and other construction work will commence in 2021.
Read the Construction Notice.
View a larger version of the Fairbank Silverthorn Storm Trunk Sewer System 2019 Map.