Kenora Downtown and Waterfront Revitalization
We provided design and contract administration services for a $9.1 million redevelopment of Kenora’s waterfront and downtown precincts – modernizing streets, public spaces and underground services while elevating the pedestrian experience and improving multimodal connectivity. A highlight of this project is utilizing our knowledge of the Complete Streets design methodology to create right‑of‑way that is safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of all ages and abilities.
Working closely with the City of Kenora and stakeholders, the design addressed building interfaces, utility constraints and long‑term maintenance needs. Other major parts of the project included implementing traffic calming elements, pedestrian upgrades, underground renewal and drainage upgrades. Collaboration at focused user meetings resulted in one of the more significant changes from a signalized three-way intersection to the first modern roundabout built along the TransCanada Highway, improving safety and flow.
What was once an aging waterfront area, is now a vibrant pillar of the community that attracts visitors from near and far.
Project Highlights
- Street renewals and realignments across key downtown/waterfront corridors
- Construction of modern roundabout (the first along the TransCanada Highway)
- Sewer and water renewals with building service replacements
- Land drainage upgrades and coordinated utility relocations
- Multi‑use pathways and expanded active‑transportation network
- Boardwalk extension along waterfront for continuous access
- Tensile fabric event centre to support community programming
- Accessible design features – tactile‑delineated sidewalks and grading to meet guidelines
- Haptic roadway surfacing at intersections for traffic calming and awareness
Water Security Agency Owner’s Engineer
KGS Group served as owner’s engineer to help the Water Security Agency (WSA) reduce their project backlog and bring consistency to their capital delivery services. Acting as project managers, our team scoped, managed and executed over 20 project procurements on behalf of the WSA.
Our project managers also assisted the WSA with oversight of their larger portfolio of owner’s engineer projects. Our role covered portfolio oversight, procurement leadership and risk and schedule control across multiple projects.
At the start of the contract, KGS mostly worked on process definition, engineering standards development and project engineering. In the later years, KGS was able to progress the work through engineering to construction. Because of this, the WSA spent its full capital allocation, with KGS-managed projects accounting for the majority of the spend, with this trend continuing to this day.
The KGS team accelerated project delivery and budget utilization while establishing a repeatable framework for future projects, enabling continued success for WSA.
Project Highlights
- Managed and executed over 20 project procurements
- Managed over 45 engineering, long‑lead procurement and construction contracts
- $53 million in capital construction delivered (November 2020 – March 2024)
- Helped create a framework enabling consistent, sustainable asset maintenance
- Clearer engagement model for ACEC‑SK members
Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels
Following severe flooding events in 2011 and 2014, the Province of Manitoba retained KGS Group for the design of the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project. The outlet channels will serve as new, permanent flood control infrastructure for both lakes.
Completed under tight schedule restrictions, the conceptual design work involved:
- Remote field investigations
- Extensive review and analysis of the various channel configurations
- Preparation of concept designs, cost estimates and constructability reviews
- Identification, assessment and screening of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts
The diverse range of design components and unique site conditions resulted in a challenging engineering undertaking that was successfully managed by the multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers, GIS technicians and support staff assembled by KGS Group.
KGS Group subsequently completed the preliminary, final design and tender preparation for the outlet channel from Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg. The project includes roughly 23 km of channel excavation, multiple drop structures, and construction of a water control structure near the channel inlet complete with gates, hoists, bridge deck and ancillary buildings. The total estimated budget for this portion of the project is over $300 million. The construction phase of the project is pending regulatory approval.
Once constructed, the outlet channels are projected to maintain both lakes below flood stage over 99 per cent of the time. They will provide the ability to better regulate the lakes and reduce the impact of future floods, benefiting residents and businesses in the area.
Project Highlights
- Design for 23 km of channel excavation with defined sections and earthworks quantities
- Design of multiple drop structures sized for hydraulic control and energy dissipation
- Water control structure near the channel inlet for operational regulation
University of Manitoba Fort Garry Riverbank Asset Management
On the northwest side of the University of Manitoba Fort Garry Campus, which is located on Treaty 1 Territory, 600 meters of Sifton Road along the Red River acts as the Primary Line of Defense (PLD) dike, protecting the City of Winnipeg from flooding. Along the riverbank, ongoing and uncontrolled surface water discharge from Culvert 108 created over-steepened slopes and was threatening the integrity of this portion of Sifton Road.
KGS Group designed an innovative solution to reconstruct Culvert 108, Sifton Road and the PLD dike system. A first for this technology in Winnipeg, the solution used buoyant lightweight fill material anchored with helical piles. Additionally, the land drainage system was redesigned, Culvert 108 was upgraded to prevent future damage and supplemental vegetation was planted. The result was an area that is fully integrated with the surrounding ecosystem and is ready for future use opportunities while protecting the community.
Project Highlights
- Designed a solution to reconstruct Culvert 108, Sifton Road and PLD dike system to restore flood protection and roadway function
- The solution, a first for this technology in Winnipeg, included buoyant lightweight fill anchored with helical piles
- Redesigned the land drainage system to control and safely route surface water, reducing erosive outflows to the riverbank
Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba Basins Flood Mitigation Study
The flood of 2011 highlighted several potential “weak links” in Manitoba’s flood control system, which resulted in widespread damage across the province. To address the propensity for flooding in the Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba basins, KGS Group carried out a flood mitigation study, which identified major flood vulnerabilities and assessed a wide range of measures to improve protection in the region.
A vast amount of data was reviewed and over 70 mitigation options were evaluated including dikes, reservoirs, diversion channels, wetland restoration and development controls. As well, a number of sophisticated models were developed to calculate cost-benefit ratios and the economic viability of the options.
Working collaboratively with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure, the project team developed a technical workshop and held public open house events to incorporate important feedback into the study findings.
The results of the study identified over $1 billion of flood mitigation upgrades required to increase the flood protection level to provincial standards across the basin. The results will also serve as the foundation for major flood mitigation programs for the next several decades.
Project Highlights
- Reviewed and synthesized basin‑wide datasets to establish current and future flood risk profiles
- Evaluated 70+ mitigation options, including dikes and levees, reservoirs and storage, diversion channels, wetland restoration, development controls
- Compiled actionable study deliverables for program planning
University of Manitoba Fort Garry Campus Riverbank Management Study
With nearly 4 km of shoreline, the University of Manitoba (UM) Fort Garry Campus is inherently linked to the Red River. The UM has adopted policies to become a leader in ecological, social and economic sustainability to promote a healthier, more active campus while reducing environmental impact.
Aligning with the UM’s sustainability principles, KGS Group provided the university with a 15-year, phased riverbank management strategy that favours restoration of the riparian corridor with naturalized solutions. Integrating geotechnical and ecological concepts, the riverbank management plan is a comprehensive tool to help the university manage risk, promote riverbank health and preserve critical infrastructure. The plan mirrors the dynamic nature of the river, allowing for updates over time to reflect changes to the riverbank and the campus itself.
Project Highlights
- Mapped and segmented 4 km of shoreline to create reach‑based inventories and prioritize restoration actions
- Completed integrated assessments of bank stability, erosion risk, riparian condition and habitat value
- Defined naturalized restoration treatments (e.g., riparian revegetation, bioengineering/soft stabilization, setback planting)
Brady Road Resource Management Facility Road Renewals
KGS Group was retained by the City of Winnipeg for preliminary design, detailed design and contract administration services to complete the asphalt reconstructions of Charette Road and Payette Road. This project included 2,590 metres of 2-lane asphalt roadway with improved ditch drainage, French drain cutoffs and culvert installations within the Brady Road Resource Management Facility.
Our designs included a robust pavement structure, drainage improvements (ditch cleanout, grading, French drains and culvert replacement), utility relocations (underground plant and pole structure relocations) and improved geometry assessed through vehicular swept-path analysis. In addition to this, we provided a comprehensive traffic management plan to ensure continual use of the facility during construction.
The result is a permanent, heavy-duty driving surface for residential, commercial and operational users to safely access the Brady Road Resource Management Facility.
Project Highlights
- Preliminary design, detailed design and contract administration services to complete the asphalt reconstructions of Charette Road and Payette Road
- Coordination with agencies, utilities and Manitoba Hydro
- The reconstructed roads reduced dust and mud issues, while extending the road life under heavy loads
- The design included ditch drainage improvements, utility relocations and improved geometry of the road