Earthquake upgrades for Vancouver Island dam could cost over $800M
BC Hydro is taking a major step towards seismically upgrading a key Vancouver Island dam.
The energy provider announced it will ask for requests for proposals for a contract to make the massive John Hart dam in Campbell River more safe if a large earthquake strikes.
The project is no small feat.
Construction is expected to run from 2023 until 2029 and cost between $497 million and $822 million.
"The John Hart dam is a key component of BC Hydro’s infrastructure on Vancouver Island," says Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro.
"The upgrades are required to strengthen the dam so that it can continue to operate safely and reliably."
In 2016, BC Hydro was forced to buy out homeowners in the sleepy surf town of Jordan River after discovering its dam above could fail in an earthquake.
Several homeowners were forced to move to higher ground and restrictions have been placed on Capital Regional District land in the area.
A lengthy study found that the Jordan River dam was the most at risk of failure out of all BC Hydro dams in the province.
Repairing damage caused by the potential dam failure would have been so costly it was considered a secondary option to moving the town.
BC Hydro began consultation with community partners and First Nations about the John Hart upgrades back in 2014, but this announcement marks the first major step toward safeguarding the decades-old structure.
The John Hart dam was built in the 1940's. It is about 34 metres tall and more than 800 metres long.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.