Infastructure
December 1, 2025
Background
The Uplands Sewer Separation and Watermain Replacement Project was initiated in 2024. In the Provincial response to Amendment 12 of the Core Area Liquid Waste Management Plan, Oak Bay (via the CRD) was directed to complete the separation of all combined sewers in the Humber catchment area of the Uplands by December 31, 2025.
A contract was awarded to Windley Contracting Ltd. to install 3.6 km of new storm sewer to allow the combined sewers to be separated. Also included in the contract were 2 new storm drain outfalls (Humber and Ripon Roads) and the replacement of 1.5 km of water mains:
Prime consultant/engineer: McElhanney
Contractor: Windley
Initial Current
Contract Contract Value
$899,829 $2,306,739*
13,999,180 $14,765,346
*Increase is almost entirely due to archeological support required to deal with archeological finds.
What’s New:
All the new storm sewers have been installed, and all catch basins connected to the newly installed storm sewers, therefore Oak Bay has met the Provincial mandate. The deep underground work is now complete; the remaining work includes the restoration of curbs and sidewalks, asphalt paving and landscape restoration.
Streetlights:
As part of the above project, ~120 new streetlights will be replaced with a similarly-styled base, pole and frosted globe, with the height standardized at 14’. The style is in keeping with Uplands’ status as a National Historic Site (2019), with the streetlights being one of the defining features.
Contract
Streetlight poles: Nova Pole Int’l $380,875
Streetlight luminaires: Stresscrete Ltd. $233,136
What’s Next:
Road/sidewalk/curb surface restoration work will continue as weather permits, with anticipated project completion by Q2 of 2026.
Streetlight installation and wiring is expected to be complete by December 31, 2025.
One outstanding issue is the relocation of stockpiled soil containing archeological finds from the end of Ripon and Midland Roads. It is anticipated it will be relocated to Loon Bay Park in the summer of 2026.
The UNA Board is also following up:
Actions required and associated timelines for Humber catchment residents to connect their properties to the new separated sewer pipes
Costs and issues related to installing a separate irrigation meter
Process for Humber catchment residents to follow to deal with any damage to their properties
Potential for Uplands residents to purchase old streetlights for use on their own properties
Plans to complete the sewer separation in the Rutland catchment area of Uplands
The District is looking to do additional paving beyond the existing patching on all roads. An update will be provided for each road when the work is scheduled
The Elgin Road Public Works/Recycle Centre is used by Oak Bay residents for recycling, garbage and garden waste drop off. The facility is now inadequate to deal with operational demands, but cannot be expanded due to the built-out surroundings. Funding another, larger property is unlikely, but options will need to be determined to allow efficient use of the current site in the future. The UNA Board will monitor this topic and ensure members are aware of options under consideration and their potential implications.
August 5th, 2025
What's New
The Uplands Combined Sewer Separation Project – Humber Region is on time; anticipated completion date is December, 2025. Water main and street light replacements are also part of the USSP, as supply lines need replacement and trenching allows access to wiring.
Municipal511: website for real-time construction impacts and project details.
Status:
Beach Drive: Installation of the storm main continues between Exeter and Ripon Road
Ripon Road: Installation of the water main continues, water services to follow
Exeter Road: Installation of the water main and water services is complete
Humber Road: Installation of the storm drain services is complete
Midland Road: Installation of the storm drains and services are complete
Lansdowne Road: Installation of the storm drains and services are complete.
Please visit www.connect.OakBay.ca to find more details or sign up to receive e-mail updates. If you have questions, there is a dedicated e-mail that goes directly to Oak Bay’s Engineering Dept. at: humberproject@oakbay.ca
New street lights will be installed to replace all existing Uplands lights; the new units will resemble existing lights, including a similarly-styled base and a frosted globe lamp. However, the height will be standardized (not currently the case) and they will be installed on the opposite side of the road to the current location, set back 2 ft. from the curb. The decision to replace the old street lights with a similar style was taken in keeping with the standards and requirements of Uplands’ status as a National Historic Site (2019), with street lighting being one of the neighbourhood’s defining features.
Elgin Road Public Works/Recycle Centre
The Elgin Road facility is used by Oak Bay residents for recycling, garbage and garden waste drop off, with green/garden waste quantities increasing in volume during the summer season. The facility is now inadequate to deal with daily operations, but there are limited options for expansion given the built-out surroundings. Funding another, larger property is unlikely, but options need to be determined and evaluated to allow efficient management of the current site in the future.
What’s Next
USSP Work Planned and Scheduled for Summer, 2025:
- Beach Drive: Installation of the storm main between Exeter and Ripon, followed by services and catch basins
- Ripon Road: Continue installation of water main, followed by services
- Exeter Road: Installation of storm drain, followed by services. Anticipated completion is mid-September
- Midland Road: Installation of streetlight conduit and basis on Midland to Beach Drive.
Street Lights:
Installation of the new street lighting (conduit and bases) on Midland Road to Beach Drive.
Road restoration (paving, curbs, etc.)
The UNA received an inquiry from one member about plans for paving, beyond the temporary patch work, on the roads affected by the separated sewer project. We asked the question of Oak Bay Engineering and received the following responses:
- The District is looking to do additional paving beyond the existing temporary patch work on all the roads. We will be assessing the limits of the paving in the next few months. Our assessment may include full lane paving (centre line to curb) and full road paving (curb to curb)
- Certain roads will be completed before others, and will be paved sooner. The District will provide an update for each road when the work is scheduled.
Elgin Road Public Works (recycle centre): the UNA continues to monitor opportunities for member input into the future of this facility.
Background
The wastewater system for the Uplands was designed in the 1930s. It combined, in a single pipe, the collection of sanitary sewage from residential homes with storm water from street gutters and house perimeter drains. The USSP will reroute storm water to a new storm drain pipe that will discharge storm water directly into the ocean. The existing pipe will route sewage to the treatment facility. This will eliminate combined sewer/stormwater overflows into the ocean during heavy rain events, and the associated burden that it puts on the environment and downstream sewage treatment systems.
There are two phases to the project: Phase 1 is the Humber and Ripon sub-catchment areas, which is currently underway. Construction dates for Phase 2 (Rutland Catchment) are not currently available.
Streetlighting: The current lights are over 100 years old, the wiring is brittle and cannot be repaired. The poles are rusty and have damaged bolts with bases that are small and not to code. The plan is to replace the existing 142 streetlight poles, fixtures and concrete bases, replace underground wiring with new conduit and install new lighting fixtures with similar appearance and light levels.
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