A substantial shoreline protection project on the Thames River in Chatham is about to start.
The municipality is currently looking for a contractor and expects to have one for council approval at the August 11, 2025 council meeting.
Chatham-Kent Manager of Engineering Mark McFadden wrote in a report heading to council on Monday night that Phase 1 of the work on the north shore of the river between the Third Street and Fifth Street bridges will begin with divers completing the required mussel relocation in late August once the contractor is approved.
McFadden also anticipates that construction of the sheet pipe wall will start in mid-September when the mussel relocation is complete.
A sheet pile wall is a retaining structure constructed by driving interlocking steel sheets into the ground to form a continuous barrier. These walls are primarily used for earth retention and water seepage control, commonly in applications like retaining walls, seawalls, and cofferdams.
If timing and weather permit, the storm sewer replacement work will also be completed in the first phase, according to McFadden.
He said excavated areas will be restored before winter and interim rock protection will be placed over the exposed bank.
Phase 2 will commence in the spring of 2026, which will include reconstruction of the slopes to finished grade, including rock protection, construction of a pathway, and complete site restoration, noted McFadden.
He anticipates the project will be fully complete in July 2026, adding approximately 40 per cent of the costs will be recovered from the Federal Government.
As a result of the project, a large homeless encampment on the north shore of the Thames River beside the Third Street bridge in Chatham is being moved for safety reasons.
The municipality noted Chatham-Kent police will be called to Thames Street on July 14 to help remove anyone who refuses to leave.
