Former Motorways Property Remediation and Revitalization Study Whitehorse

The City of Whitehorse will undertake a feasibility study to assess the extent of metal and hydrocarbon contamination in a former ore handling area near the downtown riverfront and determine whether further remediation is required. The 2,650 square metre site, known as the Former Motorways Property, is currently used as an overflow parking area. The City of Whitehorse wants to sell the property for mixed-use development once it has been adequately remediated. Remediation and excavation of contaminated soil was conducted in 1995. However, a 2011 data gap analysis indicates that pockets of soil containing metal concentrations above the Yukon Contaminated Sites Regulation Residential Land Use standards remain in certain areas. This study will assess five areas where pockets of metal-contaminated soil have been identified, determine whether further remediation is required, and investigate the possible location of an underground tank. If the levels of soil contamination in the identified areas exceed provincial standards, the municipality will develop a remediation plan to allow for future redevelopment. The innovative use of 5 x 5 metre sampling grids will accurately delineate metal-contaminated soil and minimize the amount of soil which may need to be removed and managed off-site. The proposed study will help to revitalize Whitehorse’s riverfront area by supporting the redevelopment of this historically important site, once a centre of First Nation activity and later a transportation hub during the Gold Rush and World War II. Redevelopment will also open up new opportunities for green building technologies and other sustainable design practices that can be replicated in other northern climates. (Project description from original funding application)