Something needs to be done, and quick.

That’s the message from Hamilton residents who say they are tired of politicians, engineers and bureaucrats failing to properly deal with the flooding issues on the Red Hill Valley Parkway.

Speaking from a bar stool in a pub on the banks of one of the parkway’s flooding flashpoints on Barton Street, Barry Stewart, of Stoney Creek, sighs as he sips his pint.

“This road took 50 years to build, you’d think they would have got it right,” said the inventory manager. “Climate change is not a new thing. The parkway should have been built to the extremes of safety.

“Why wasn’t the road built higher, so that water would run along its side? The first thing our officials need to do is stop worrying about being told ‘I told you so’ and admit there’s a problem. This has carried on far too long.”

Another patron, Dan Facca, thinks the city either needs to build another overflow pond or widen the grates to avoid smaller debris blocking flood water.

Cindy McGill, who lives near the parkway, is still waiting for the city to deliver on its promise to re-plant “absorption trees” that used to line the valley.

Nancy Green, who was visiting her parents’ plots in Eastlawn Cemetery near the parkway, said Mayor Fred Eisenberger should hold a public meeting to decide on next steps.

“The citizens of this city often have better ideas than our leaders,” she said.

Meanwhile Councillor Terry Whitehead, who called for a review after the first flood of the year, plans to put forward a motion for an independent review of the road’s design at the next committee of the whole on Aug. 10.

“We shouldn’t be jumping to the conclusion that this is all down to climate change, especially without seeing the empirical data,” he said. “We paid millions for this highway, the citizens can’t just be expected to get used to flooding. We need to figure out some solutions. An independent review is the only way to see the wood for the trees.”

via TheSpec.com – Local – Time to act on parkway, public says.