St. Andrews Lock & Dam Quay Wall Rehabilitation Project

Public Notice

St. Andrews Lock & Dam Quay Wall Rehabilitation Project - Public Comments Invited 

September 29, 2026 - Public Services & Procurement Canada (PSPC) must determine whether the proposed quay wall rehabilitation  project at St.Andrews Lock and Dam is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination, PSPC is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online. 

Written comments must be submitted by November 15, 2026 to:

Karen Hill

PSPC

269 Main Street

Winnipeg, MB R3C 1B2

431-336-9850

Karen.hill@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca 

Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) intends to carry out rehabilitation and accessibility improvements to the quay wall and adjacent lands located on the north side of  the St. Andrews Lock and Dam (SALD).

SALD is located along the Red River in Lockport, Manitoba, 27 km downstream (north) of Winnipeg and approximately 44 km upstream from the mouth of the Red River at Lake Winnipeg. The  property consists of  two parcels of land, the west compound and east compound, which are connected by a two-lane bridge that crosses over the dam (Highway 44). Together, both parcels comprise approximately 21.5 hectares of land and five buildings. The lock and dam structure consists of a fixed dam and a movable dam with six spans. The movable dam is used to raise and control upstream water levels on the Red River during low river flow, to enable navigation of large commercial vessels, and a lock and navigational channel along the west abutment. 

Within the SALD site, the quay wall area located along the north side of the lock chamber on the west compound forms part of the historic navigation infrastructure associated with the facility. The quay wall consists of a series of stepped, reinforced concrete marine wall tiers extending from the top of the riverbank down to the water's edge. Historically, this area functioned as a working interface between land and water, providing mooring and service access for vessels using the lock, as well as operational access for maintenance of the dam and navigational structures. The tiered configuration reflects its dual role in accommodating fluctuating water levels in the Red River and facilitating safe movement of personnel and equipment between elevations.                                                                                                                                  

The project includes selective removal and reconstruction of the lowest (river-level) quay wall section, which will be replaced with a structure of similar footprint and geometry to maintain existing hydraulic and navigational conditions. Upper-tier quay wall sections will undergo stabilization improvements, including structural reinforcement and repairs to extend service life and improve safety. In addition, the project will introduce accessibility enhancements across the site, including the provision of barrier-free access between River Road (located along the top of the riverbank) and the lower quay levels. These improvements are intended to facilitate universal public access while maintaining the historical character and functional integrity of the site.

Associated works include removal of deteriorated concrete, placement of new concrete, installation of a temporary shoring system to facilitate reconstruction of the lowest quay tier, installation of a cofferdam downstream of the lock and dam, dewatering within the cofferdam footprint, localized dredging within the isolated area, and subsequent removal of the cofferdam. Work on the lowest levels is anticipated to occur within a dewatered work area during winter conditions.

In addition to PSPC completing an Environmental Effects Evaluation (EEE) for the project, Archaeologists have been involved in the project to date and will be on-site during excavation activities to mitigate potential impacts to archaeological resources.  

The project is being reviewed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and PSPC will apply for authorization to proceed if DFO determines through its review process that the project will cause the death of fish and/or harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat. Mitigation Measures to minimize potential impacts to fish and fish habitat will also be included in the EEE.

The work will require in water work and may require the temporary closure of the lock. As per the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, an application for approval has been submitted to Transport Canada.