The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has unveiled the completed Thames River Slope Stabilization Project, a work aimed at protecting the downtown Chatham riverfront and creating a safer, more accessible waterfront.
The project covered a section of the river between the Third Street Bridge and the Fifth Street Bridge, where years of erosion and aging infrastructure had raised concerns about the stability of the riverbank. The work included replacing the deteriorating retaining wall, restoring the riverbank, improving stormwater infrastructure and building a new accessible pathway along the waterfront.
The new retaining wall is about half a metre higher than the previous one, offering added protection during high water. The riverbank slope was rebuilt and regraded to a flatter, more stable profile, with quarried rock and native plants added to reinforce it.
The federal government’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund covered about 40 per cent of eligible project costs.
“This project is about protecting our community today while planning for the future,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “The Thames River is an important part of Chatham’s identity, and this investment ensures our downtown waterfront remains safe, accessible, and enjoyable for generations to come. It’s also another step toward creating a more vibrant and connected downtown that residents can take pride in.”
The municipality also recognized Onterris, formerly Matrix Solutions Inc., Clarke Construction Inc., the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, Indigenous communities, regulatory agencies and other partners.
