Thunder Bay celebrated the revitalization of an iconic city landmark.
Boulevard Lake Dam is now formally open to the public after a rehabilitation project first discussed more than a decade ago is completed.
The upgrades were required as the structure had deteriorated over time.
Some of the work included concrete repairs, a widened walkway, new lighting, a new viewing area, and new post-tension tendons for structural stability.
Current River Councillor Andrew Foulds has been heavily involved in the project right from the beginning.
“You saw people stopping, you saw families observing the vistas, you saw people sitting on these new benches taking a look at these huge cogs,” explains Foulds. “How do I feel? Pretty darn good. It’s been a long time and I’m just pleased we got it done. I really hope that for the next 100 years, people enjoy it as much as I’m enjoying it right now. It feels good.”
The construction was initially started in June 2020, and was completed at the end of October 2021.
A significant part of the project was paid for by the federal government.
“The Boulevard Lake Dam has been part of Thunder Bay’s community infrastructure for a century,” explains Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hadju. “The $13.2-million in federal funding will help improve floodwater and sewage management, promising a safer, healthier city for all of us. I’m glad our government was able to support this rehabilitation and respond to the growing impact of climate change on our community.”
While the construction portion of the project is completed and the dam is open to the public, there are a few finishing touches remaining.
“We have some management plans we have to update, so we have to deal with the various ministries and regulatory industries,” explains Project Manager Mike Vogrig. “All the gates are powered, but not automated yet so we’ll probably be working on the project over the next year. There’s also some lighting on the dam we need to work on we hope to have done before Christmas.”
Along with this, there are plans to put up story boards that will explain the history of Boulevard Lake Dam.
The rehabilitation project was originally planned in 2008, the scope of the project initially being widening the walkway.
Widened walkway on Boulevard Lake Dam (STAFF PHOTO)
