FAQs

This project is focused on two main goals: reducing the risk of Thames River flooding and improving pedestrian and cycling connections in the Cavendish area. It supports the West London Dyke Master Repair Plan, which aims to protect homes from flooding, as well as the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) Master Plan, which looks to expand and connect recreational trails along the Thames River. 

 The West London Dyke is a large wall-like structure built along the northwest side of the Thames River near the Forks of the Thames. Its main job is to protect nearby homes and areas from flooding by holding back river water when levels get too high. Previous phases of West London Dyke replaced sections between the Queens Avenue bridge at the Forks of the Thames to north of Oxford Street West.

As part of this work, the project will strengthen the dyke near the Cavendish neighbourhood, extend the TVP trail to Cavendish Park, and build a new underpass under Wharncliffe Road Bridge, making it safer and easier for people to walk or bike to and from downtown.

The West London Dyke Project is led by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). The City is the owner of the dyke and project partner.

This project is paid for with help from both the federal and provincial governments. The federal government is covering about 40% of the costs through a program called the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF). The province is also helping by providing funding through the Water and Erosion Control Infrastructure (WECI) program.

West London Dyke Master Plan EA (Environmental Assessment)

The UTRCA conducted an EA study to look at safety, flood risk, the environment, and how people move through the area. It recommended raising the dyke to improve flood protection and building safer, better-connected pathways.

An environmental study, also known as an environmental assessment, is a process used to understand how a proposed project could affect the surrounding environment and community. It looks at potential impacts on natural areas, water systems, wildlife, and nearby homes or roads. The study also helps identify ways to reduce or avoid any negative effects. The goal is to make sure the project is safe, environmentally responsible, and follows local and provincial regulations before construction begins.

The design was chosen to balance flood protection, safety, and neighbourhood impact. The dyke will protect the Kensington Village area from a major flood, which statistically happens once every 250 years. It was also designed to avoid narrowing the Thames River or affecting its natural flow.

To respect nearby homes, the design limits how much construction happens close to properties along Cavendish Crescent. It also allows for safe access during construction. Once complete, the design includes a new accessible trail connection under Wharncliffe Road Bridge and easy links to the Thames Valley Parkway from both Cavendish Crescent and Wharncliffe Road.

West of Wharncliffe Road, the trail will run along the lower part of the dyke, near the river, instead of on top. Here's why:

Privacy: Trees will be removed during construction, so placing the path lower down keeps more privacy for nearby homes.

Safety: There's not enough room on top of the dyke to safely add lighting. A lower path allows for better visibility.

Flood rules: The path can’t go into the floodplain or reduce the river’s flow space, so the design carefully avoids that.

Future planning: This stretch will connect to a future Mud Creek pathway, which will bring more foot and bike traffic.

Accessibility: The trail will have access points every 500 metres and meet accessibility standards.

Better connections: A new underpass at Wharncliffe will let people walk or bike downtown more easily and safely.

There will not be any additional mid-block connections because of space limitations and the steep slope in the area. However, residents will still be able to access downtown by using the existing walkways along Cavendish Crescent or by entering the Thames Valley Parkway at either Cavendish Park or the Kiwanis Senior’s Centre. From there, they can use the new underpass at Wharncliffe Road for a safe and direct connection to the downtown core.

The new underpass at Wharncliffe Road will have a clearance of approximately 3.6 metres, which is typical for Thames Valley Parkway underpasses. This height matches what's called the 2-year flood level, meaning there's about a 50% chance it could flood in any given year. Raising the path higher wouldn’t reduce that risk and would go against floodplain rules, which don’t allow construction that blocks the natural flow of the river.

Like other parts of the Thames Valley Parkway, this section of the path will not be maintained in the winter. Snow and ice clearing won't be done, so how easy it is to use will depend on the weather.

Encampments are not to be located within 100 metres of private residential property lines with a habitable dwelling, as per the Building Code. Encampments are prohibited on pathways, sidewalks, parking lots, and under bridges. 

The Coordinated Informed Response (CIR) team is a trained, highly-engaged team of City of London employees, London Police Services and the community outreach agencies London CARES and 519Pursuit. CIR is on the streets every day, offering support and services to Londoners living unsheltered. 

For encampment-related concerns, you can report an issue through the Service London online portal, over the phone by calling 519-661-4570, or by emailing service@london.ca.