Ambassador Bridge Replacement Span Environmental Presentation

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Ambassador Bridge Replacement Span
Environmental Presentation
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Socioeconomics
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Socioeconomics

• Study Areas
• Site Study area lands within 200 metres of
  project
• Local Study area University of Windsor and
  community of Sandwich
• Regional Study area City of Windsor and Essex
  County
• Field review, literature review (Official Plans,
  Zoning By-law, Community Planning Documents,
  Heritage District Study etc.)
• Discussions with area residents
• Environmental effects relating to socioeconomics
  are defined as interruptions or disruptions to
  current land uses by the replacement span in such
  a manner that existing land use activities are
  restricted or unable to continue
• Assessment of land use activities includes visual
  and aesthetic settings, community infrastructure,
  community services, heritage resources and
  archaeological resources

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Socioeconomics

• Ambassador Bridge acts as a major international
  highway linking Canada and the United States
• Land surrounding the replacement space is used
  for residential, institutional and recreational
  purposes
• Replacement space will be constructed on lands
  owned by Proponent
• Construction activities may temporarily disrupt
  fishing activities near the Project, however
  other access to the Detroit River is easily
  available
• No significant impacts on the Study Areas

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Socioeconomics

• Currently Local and Regional economies are facing
  high unemployment rates and significant property
  vacancies
• The construction of the replacement span will
  result in a more efficient and safer crossing
  thereby reducing congestion and improving
  cross-border movement of goods.
• Replacement span developed on vacant and/or
  underutilized property resulting in increased
  property values and tax revenue and promoting
  development in the area

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Socioeconomics

• Aesthetic conditions include natural environment
  (Detroit River) and urbanized area
• Views and vistas of the Detroit River in local
  and regional study area limited by the urban
  character of the land
• The Art Deco and Art Moderne architectural design
  of the Ambassador Bridge represents the dominant
  feature of the urban skyline for 78 years
• Ambassador Bridge represents a physical and
  symbolic gateway between Canada and the United
  States
• Construction equipment (ground equipment and
  cranes) will be temporarily visible from local
  study area
• Mitigation during construction to minimize impact
  on local study area including avoidance of local
  roads by construction vehicles
• Integration of design details of replacement span
  with Ambassador Bridge

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Socioeconomics
Simulation of Visual Effect from MacKenzie Hall
Simulation of Visual Effect from Mason-Giradot
Manour
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Socioeconomics

• No heritage sites removed by the construction of
  the replacement span

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Socioeconomics

• City of Windsor heritage study
• commercial/institutional core along Sandwich
  Street
• circa 1920 residential subdivision in
  Rosedale/Alexander neighbourhood
• Heritage studies recommended evaluation of
  structures along Indian Road
• All structures along the east side of Indian Road
  between University Avenue and Mill Street were
  assessed by a heritage consultant
• No heritage or historically significant
  structures were identified on lands in this area
• Construction of replacement span is a catalyst
  for development and redevelopment in site, local,
  and regional Study Areas

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• ARCHAEOLOGICAL

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• Air Quality Assessment

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Air Quality Assessment Scope

• based on federal EA Guidelines Air Quality
• Work Plan (reviewed by Env. Can.)
• 3 Study Areas
• Site Study Area
• existing bridge and Enhancement Project (ABEP)
  including both
• Canadian and US customs and plaza area
• Local Study Area A
• Site Study Area plus 2 km along Huron Church
  Road (turn for
• secondary inspection) including major
  intersecting arterial roads to a
• distance of 300 m
• Local Study Area B
• 5 km along Huron Church / Talbot Road
  commencing at E.C.. Row
• Expressway to Hwy 401 including major
  intersecting roads to a
• distance of 300 m
• Regional Study Area Essex County (CDN) and Wayne
• County (US)

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Air Quality Assessment Scope

• Site and Local Study Areas include assessment of
  impacts on sensitive receptors (residences,
  schools, churches, etc)
• data collection and analysis
• traffic (profile, peak volume, signaling)
  Sources City of Windsor, DRIC, Ambassador Bridge
• ambient air quality monitoring (background)
  Sources MOE, MDEQ, etc
• meteorology (wind speed, direction) Source MOE
• assessment of local conditions (fleet profile)
  was conducted resulting in customized vehicle
  fleet emission factors for the Ambassador Bridge,
  Huron Church Road and arterial roads for each
  modelled scenario
• emission factors developed using customized
  software by Environment Canada (MOBILE 6.2C) to
  reflect Canadian conditions (fleet, fuel
  standards, meteorology)

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Air Quality Assessment Scope

• Emission factors used as input into
  state-of-science software to model impacts
• CALQ3HCR AERMOD
• 16 pollutants and precursors of interest (see
  following table)
• detailed analysis of 6 emission scenarios
• Analysis includes the assessment of cumulative
  effects Impacts considered includes
• Conservative background (90th percentile)
• Other projects (existing bridge, US side of ABEP,
  Gateway Project, DRIC)

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Air Quality Assessment Key Results

• impacts at intersections along Huron Church Road
  decrease rapidly 0 to 50 m from roadway and
  approach background levels within approximately
  150 m
• future air quality predicted to improve with ABEP
  through
• enhanced traffic flow (e.g. additional customs
  booths)
• government policies
• fuel standards
• ethanol replacement
• vehicle emission controls
• ABEP improvement vs. Future Do Nothing (FDN)
  especially in areas close to bridge and plaza
• for many substances, contribution of vehicle
  emissions are minor relative to current background

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Air Quality Assessment Key Results

• road dust is the dominant contributor to
  particulate
• Road sweeping and prevention of trackout from
  unpaved access points are potential mitigation
  methods
• predicted highest vehicle emission impacts are
• Infrequent, localized and adjacent to Huron
  Church Road
• Highest impacts occur near Huron Church/Tecumseh
• Predict 10 days/yr gtAAQC at this location

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NOISE AND VIBRATION
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Environmental Noise Study

• Assessment Methods
• Followed Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO)
  guidelines for Highway Improvements
• Identified Noise Sensitive Receptors (NSRs)
  Schools, Residences and Heritage Sites within
  300m of the Enhancement Project.
• Predicted Sound Levels at 23 representative NSRs
  for
• Present Day Scenario (2007 traffic volumes)
• Future No-Build Scenario (2021 traffic volumes)
• Future Build Scenario (2021 traffic volumes )

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Representative Noise Sensitive Receptors
(NSRs) Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project
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Environmental Noise Study

• Noise Criteria
• MTO Guidelines, Environmental Office Manual,
  Technical Areas Noise (May 15, 1992), states
  that if future sound levels will be greater than
  55 dBA and will increase by more than 5 dBA
  (Build vs. No-Build), mitigation should be
  investigated on the Right of Way.
• More stringent criteria are being used.
  Mitigation is proposed for any NSR where sound
  levels are expected to increase by more than 1
  dBA (Build vs. No-Build).
• Measured sound levels in the Local Study Area
  range from 55 dBA to 69 dBA. These sound levels
  are typical of an urban environment near busy
  roadways.

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Environmental Noise Study
Noise Study Findings

• The new bridge design incorporates safety lanes
  and Jersey Barriers that mitigate noise impacts.
• Due to the location of the Enhancement Project
  sound levels will decrease at the University of
  Windsor.

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Environmental Noise Study

• There is a predicted increase in sound levels at
  dwellings west of Indian Road south of Peter
  Street.
• Mitigation (noise barriers) shall be constructed
  on the Jersey Barriers along the west side of
  the roadway to a sufficient height to ensure that
  sound levels do not increase by more than 1 dBA
  at any noise sensitive receptors at any time, day
  or night.
• No significant environmental effects are
  anticipated after the implementation of the
  mitigation measures.

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Ground-bourne Vibration Study

• Assessment Methods
• The Enhancement Project will be constructed on
  piles driven to bedrock, a lower vibration
  design.
• Measured vibration levels were compared to
  criteria from ISO 2631/2 Evaluation of human
  exposure to whole-body vibration Part 2 for
  perceptibility and German Standard (DIN 4150) and
  Swiss Standard (SN640 312) for cosmetic damage.
• Reviewed current bridge and proposed bridge
  design

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Ground-bourne Vibration Study

• Results

• Current vibration levels can be perceptible to
  people standing near the bridge piers. They are
  below the range at which cosmetic damage would be
  expected.

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Construction Noise and Vibration

• Monitor vibration levels during pile driving near
  sensitive structures.
• Municipal bylaws will be obeyed (time
  restrictions)
• Compliance with MOE sound level limits for
  construction equipment will be a requirement.
• Noise complaints will be investigated,
  contractors warned where appropriate.
• Factory recommended exhaust mufflers required on
  all internal combustion engines.
• Construction traffic will be routed away from
  residential neighbourhoods.
• Alternative noise control measures may be
  required where they are reasonably available.
• With the implementation of the mitigation
  measures no significant environmental effects are
  anticipated.

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Terrestrial Aquatic Environment Geology and
Contaminated Sites
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Navigation

• Statutory requirements
• Canada Shipping Act, 2001
• Collision Regulations (CRC, VOl. XV, c. 1416)
• The St. Clair and Detroit River Navigation Safety
  Regulations (SOR/84-335)
• Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft
  Regulations (SOR/99-53)
• Barges used during construction to transport
  materials
• Licensed operators
• Barge activities will be coordinated so no
  impediment to other vessels
• No piers will be placed in the waters of the
  Detroit River, resulting in no environmental
  effects

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Vegetation

• Field review conducted to assess and identify
  existing vegetation in Local and Site Study areas
• Study areas
• Site Study area project footprint
• Local Study area Wyandotte Street to Detroit
  River, Indian Road to Riverside Drive to McKee
  Park and the Detroit River
• Regional Study area City of Windsor and
  surrounding communities including Towns of
  LaSalle, Tecumseh and Amherstburg
• No Species at Risk identified
• Minimal natural heritage features available as
  habitat for local wildlife and no wetlands
  located in the site and local study areas
• Existing vegetation limited to street trees,
  shrubs and manicured grass
• Implementation of a tree saving plan

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Wildlife

• Field review conducted to assess and identify
  existing wildlife in Local and Site Study areas
• Study areas
• Site Study area project footprint
• Local Study area Wyandotte Street to Detroit
  River, Indian Road to Riverside Drive to McKee
  Park and the Detroit River
• Regional Study area City of Windsor and
  surrounding communities including Towns of
  LaSalle, Tecumseh and Amherstburg
• Human intrusion and urbanization limits amount
  and diversity of wildlife
• Wildlife reflects urban environment and tolerant
  of humans (mice, squirrels, skunks, opossum,
  raccoons, birds)
• No impacts on Species at Risk
• No regional linkages or corridors in local or
  site study areas

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Fish and Fish Habitat

• No construction activities in the Detroit River,
  along its banks or below the plane of the
  ordinary high water mark with the exception of
  construction materials potentially delivered by
  barge
• No impacts on any species including Species at
  Risk
• Erosion and sediment control systems implemented
• Erosion control measures include dust suppression
  measures, silt fences, diversions, temporary
  ground cover
• Stormwater management systems to collect, convey,
  and treat stormwater
• no net loss of fish and fish habitat

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Surface Water

• No dredging, in-water blasting, in-water pile
  driving, pier construction or in or along the
  Detroit River
• Use of barges for materials has no significant
  effect on water quality, levels or use
• No requirement to dredge channels for the barges
• No piers place in, or immediately adjacent to,
  the Detroit River
• Management and control of storm and surface water
  drainage and stabilization of unprotected
  surfaces with seeding and mulching
• Spills Prevention and Contingency Plan
  Implemented
• Emergency Spills Response Plan Implemented
• Stormwater management facility proposed

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Groundwater

• Four Distinct Aquifers
• Water Table aquifer essentially non-existent
• Overburden aquifer within 4 meters of surface
  regionally, near surface in site study area, has
  generated artesian conditions
• Contact aquifer located at bedrock/overburden
  contact zone, largest aquifer with respect to
  area
• Bedrock aquifer located within the bedrock, has
  generated artesian conditions
• Recharge mainly by infiltration on a regional
  level
• Terrain generally flat with down-cut rivers and
  streams for only topographic relief
• Local recharge limited due to the high percentage
  of impervious surfaces in the urbanized area
• Near surface heavy clays act as an aquiclude
  resulting in a low rate of discharge to the
  Detroit River

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Geology and Soils

• Boreholes confirmed geological and soil
  conditions in the Site Study area
• Study areas
• Site Study area project footprint
• Local Study area - area within a 100 metre (328
  foot) radius of the Site Study Area.
• Regional Study area City of Windsor
• Surface soils are fill and disturbed native soils
• Sub-surface soils consists of 30-40 metres of
  unconsolidated deposits mainly of lacustrine clay
  with interspersed gravel and sand deposits.
• Underlying bedrock part of Michigan Basin and
  Dundee formation underlies Local Study area
• No salt mines located in the Site Study area

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Ambassador Bridge Enhancement Project

• THANK YOU
• Any questions or comments please visit
  www.ambassadorbridge.com