Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), in partnership with the City of Toronto, is undertaking maintenance works on existing shoreline erosion control structures along Lake Ontario within Bluffer’s Park in order to protect against the hazards of shoreline erosion and address public safety concerns.
Project Location
The project area is located in Bluffer’s Park, at 1 Brimley Road South, at the base of Brimley Road in Scarborough, City of Toronto. The area of concern includes the southernmost headland and adjacent beaches, located at the southwest limits of the park on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
Learn More About the Project
Project Background
Bluffer’s Park was built as part of a large lakefilling operation from the early 1960s to mid 1970s, and includes a series of armourstone headlands, beaches, and revetments for erosion control protection. Since its construction, the landform has been used as a public park, and features formal walking trails, public beaches, marinas, and open green spaces that overlook Lake Ontario. The project area includes the southernmost headland and its adjacent beaches; the headland is lined by an armourstone revetment and the beach is constructed of a mix of cobble, gravel, and concrete rubble material.
In 2006, TRCA began conducting annual inspections of the structures within Bluffer’s Park as a part of the Erosion Risk Management Program (ERMP). Following a routine inspection of the headland and beaches system in 2017, the ERMP identified weak spots at the southern tip of the headland and mid-section of the beach from wave action and loss of structure material due to severe storms and high Lake levels.
On April 14-15 2018, the Toronto Region experienced a severe wind storm which caused extreme wave action in Lake Ontario. The waves caused significant damage to the headland and beach, washing large amounts of stone material into the lake and onto the park tableland, and scouring the shoreline. The wave activity from the storm resulted in the complete collapse of the weakened portion of the headland.
In the spring of 2018, TRCA retained Riggs Engineering Limited to develop engineered design solutions for repair of the damaged structures. An interim design was developed and implemented to temporarily stabilize the headland while a long-term solution was in development. Interim works were completed in January 2019 and involved the placement of armourstone in the large failure section of the headland.
The interim works (Phase I) were designed to provide temporary protection to the parkland for the winter and spring months when ice and wave action place the structure at increased risk for further damage. The interim solution is intended to prevent further damage to the park until the long-term solution could be implemented. The long-term solution includes repair of the remainder of the headland as well as the adjacent beach, and will be implemented as Phase II (headland) and Phase III (beach).
Recently, the project has been updated to include a fourth phase (Phase IV: West Beach Long-Term Works) which includes the maintenance/repair of the beach west of the headland. Similar to the headland and beach, the west beach has continued to experience degradation from wave action and severe weather events. Detailed designs for this portion of the project will begin shortly.
Scope of Work
The general scope of work for the Project includes the following items:
- Phase I: Interim Works – completed in January 2019
- Phase II: Headland Long-term Works – Summer 2020
- Phase III: Beach Long-term Works – Summer 2020 – Spring 2021*
- Phase IV: West Beach Long-Term Works – Summer 2021*
*Timelines are subject to change
The scope of work for 2020 includes the completion of Phase II: Headland Long-Term Works, and the implementation of Phase III: Beach Long-Term Works during Summer 2020. All necessary permits and approvals will be obtained for the implementation of works prior to construction.
Construction Information
Construction of Phase II: Headland Long-term Works commenced in June 18, 2019 and was completed in July 2020 with the exception of restoration work, which will be undertaken following completion of all phases of work encompassing the entire headland area disturbed as part of the works. Phase III: Beach Long-Term Works begun August 2020. Phase IV: West Beach Long-Term Works is anticipated to begin following the completion of Phase III.
To ensure public safety, the headland area will be closed for the duration of the work. Other areas of the park required for construction access, including trails within the limits of construction and the beach, will be closed on weekdays and reopened on the weekend throughout the duration of the work. For your safety, please respect all posted construction signs and stay clear of the work areas and equipment. Your cooperation and patience with this undertaking is appreciated. Please see the map below for details.
Public Notices
A Notice of Construction was published in the June 13, 2019 edition of the Scarborough Mirror to inform the public of the project and construction timelines. The notice is available for viewing at the link below.
Notice of Construction – Phase II: Headland Long-Term Works
Notices of Construction signs have been installed at all applicable trail entrances, available for viewing at the link below.
Notice of Project Commencement – Phase II: Headland Long-Term Works
Notice of Project Commencement – Phase III: Beach Long-Term Works
Progress Updates
Update: July 5, 2019
Site setup has commenced for Phase II headland works. The work area has been fenced off and erosion and sediment control measures have been installed. Tree hoarding measures have also been completed.
Update: July 11, 2019
With site setup completed and erosion and sediment control measures in place, the replacement of the headland’s revetment has commenced.
Update: October 7, 2019
Construction continues on the revetment. Crews are replacing the armourstone along the revetment with new and suitable reusable materials. A second layer of armourstone will be added to the headland for added protection against wave action.
Update: December 23, 2019
Construction continues along the revetment. Crews are working to complete treatment along the toe of the revetment with new and suitable reusable materials.
Update: February 10, 2020
Construction continues along the revetment with movement towards the eastern, and final section of the headland.
Update: April 13, 2020
Construction crews working on completing the crest of the eastern section of the headland.
Update: May 26, 2020
Construction crews finalizing the crest at the eastern section of the headland.
Update: June 26, 2020
Construction crews placing armourstone on the crest on the western portion of the headland.
Update: August 4, 2020
Construction crews have completed the armourstone works along the headland and have begun works on the splash pad.
Update: August 24, 2020
Site setup for Phase III: Beach Long-Term Works has begun. Tree hoarding and erosion and sediment control measures have been installed.
Update: September 25, 2020
Crews placing stone along the revetment with an excavator.
Update: October 20, 2020
Crews preparing for the next section of the revetment by removing rubble material and installing necessary erosion and sediment control measures.
Update: November 25, 2020
Crews beginning work on the armourstone stacked revetment in the midsection of the structure.
Update: December 17, 2020
Crews installing base layer of stepped armourstone at the mid-section of the structure.
Contact Us
The Planning Team is located at TRCA’s Boyd Field Centre in Vaughan:
Restoration & Infrastructure Division, Engineering Projects
9755 Canada Company Avenue
Vaughan, Ontario
L4H 0A3
For more information regarding this project, please contact Jet Taylor, Senior Project Manager.
Jet Taylor, Senior Project Manager
Engineering Projects
Restoration & Infrastructure Division
jet.taylor@trca.ca
416-990-7432