YOU ASKED: I have recently observed a City surveying crew working on Barnhartvale Road, between the top and bottom of the hill. They have spent a couple of weeks on this project and I was wondering if you know what they are planning for this area?

—Mark Gibson

OUR ANSWER: It took some digging to find the answer to this one.

But as soon as we were put in touch with Geoff Cahill, a designer who works in the City’s engineering and development department, all the pieces to this puzzle came together.

Cahill says the crew was out in Barnhartvale a few weeks ago to map the co-ordinates of Juniper Creek, which runs along Barnhartvale Road.

“Juniper Creek is basically being eroded and it’s putting Barnhartvale Road at risk,” said Cahill. “So we have a capital project in place to take a look at some improvements to that creek.”

Parts of the waterway have been eroding naturally over time and, while it’s not an immediate threat to Barnhartvale Road, it’s something the City doesn’t want to leave unchecked for much longer.

“There’s two spots in particular that are a bit close to the road,” said Cahill.

So the data collected by the survey crew is being uploaded into a computer program that will generate a digital model of Juniper Creek. Engineers will use the model to figure out how best to repair those sections of the creek.

Some of the options they may consider include filling in the weakened sections of the creek with rocks and other stable material, installing retaining walls or, if needed, realigning the threatened parts of Barnhartvale Road.

“At this stage, we just have the survey and that leads us down the road to more detailed planning,” added Cahill.

Next winter is the earliest any work would begin.