Debris Barrier Project in Squamish Faces Storm, Costs

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome to Vancouver News today, powered by AI. Construction crews building a huge debris barrier in Squamish, British Columbia hit paws during a heavy atmospheric river that dumped 200. Four millimeters of rain over five days, ending on March 20th. This $115 million project stands 24 meters tall and is designed to block up to 2.8 million cubic meters of. Debris flowing from Mount Garibaldi down the Cheeky River. Earlier this year, back in January, when the barrier was 75 percent done, it took a hit from erosion that damaged the concrete base after. Three debris events over 18 months, including one in September that washed out protective fill. The latest storm overwhelmed the temporary river bypass, forcing water right through the structure and halting repairs. The barrier is all about protecting a major housing development on the Risky Cheeky fan, where debris builds up over time. A partnership between the Squamish Nation and local developers is fully funding it to clear the way for 195 units,

1:05including homes, townhouses, and shops. The project kicked off back in 2013. Now, cost of climb from an original $89 million estimate, but developers say it's still on track with no changes to future upkeep. Expenses. Come July, ownership shifts to the District of Squamish, who will handle operations and maintenance totaling around $540,000 dollars a year over a century, plus reserves for repairs. District staff are eyeing those base fixes to confirm long-term costs and work has already restarted after the storm. They'll update Council on April 7th, keeping this flood defense moving forward for the community's growth.