Rehabilitation of the Former Ivaco Plant Site

The City of Trois-Rivières decontaminated and redeveloped the 3.1-hectare lot on the site of the former Ivaco plant, on the shores of the Saint-Maurice River. The goal was to use this property as the north entrance to the urban development project “Trois-Rivières-sur-Saint-Laurent.” The work was managed by the city’s sustainable development division and directed by a consultant who provided the city with a certificate of decontamination. The contractor was selected by a publicly advertised tender call. Soil characterization studies had shown that 4,725 cubic metres (m3) of soil would have to be excavated; of this, 3,757 m3 were to be treated off-site either by bio-restoration or by thermal treatment, and 968 m3 would be buried in an authorized site. Surface water and mud from a contaminated basin were pumped out and disposed of at an authorized site. Revegetation of the land, through planting 395 trees, aimed to provide suitable habitat to fauna in this area, known for its avian biodiversity. The city expected that completion of the project would allow residents to enjoy the following kinds of benefits: environmental (reduction of soil contamination , reduced risk of river contamination, new plant cover); social (cycling path, museum, theatre); and economic (new property tax revenues, revitalization of tourism industry). The “Trois-Rivières-sur-Saint-Laurent” project included residential, commercial, industrial and public properties.

(Project description from original funding application)