Schomberg Road Culverts Environmental Assessment Amendment

The City of Richmond Hill has completed a study to determine the best way to rehabilitate/replace the culverts under Schomberg Road and improve the river and wetland conditions in the area.

The preferred solution includes:

• Replacing the twin 3 metre diameter corrugated metal pipe culverts with twin 4.5 metre concrete culverts; and
• Minor grading works to direct low water flows to the south culvert and have the north culvert be used for higher flows to minimize sediment build up.

A Project File Report is available for reference under the Environmental Assessment Amendment tab below.

Construction will take place at the same time as the Schomberg Road reconstruction. Detailed design of that project is scheduled to take place in 2024.

This study is now complete and has moved to the design phase. All further updates to the project status will be posted under the City's Capital Projects page: Richmondhill.ca/CapitalProjects. Relevant information can be found under the "Schomberg Road and Aubrey Avenue Reconstruction" tab in the link. Any questions or comments relating to the project should be directed to the contacts noted in the Capital Projects webpage.

Project Background

In 2009, the City conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the culverts under Schomberg Road in support of the future road reconstruction. With the road reconstruction project set to begin soon, the City has undertaken a study to review the original findings and determine the best way to rehabilitate/reconstruct the culverts.

The study area is situated along the East Humber River watercourse and consists of the culverts under Schomberg Road along with associated lands upstream and downstream of the culverts (see map).

The East Humber River crosses Schomberg Road approximately 150 metres north of King Road. The crossing is comprised of twin 3 metre diameter corrugated metal pipe culverts, which were constructed prior to 1970. Due to the flat slope of the channels in the area, the culverts have experienced significant sediment accumulation, which is blocking water flow. This can potentially result in high water levels and flood risks upstream. The primary purpose of this study is to identify the best means to improve the hydraulic conditions of the area and promote positive drainage at the river crossing.

The study has determined that the proposed solution is equivalent to recommendations from the 2009 EA study, and due to this, only an addendum to the 2009 study is required.  This study has been conducted in accordance with Schedule B of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.

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