Spring Creek is finally getting the upgrades that have been talked about since 2011.  

The creek runs from Iron Bridge, west of Thatcher Drive, east towards 9th Avenue NW and then under the roadway. That culvert was washed out twice during spring flooding 2011 and 2012, then in 2013, the city had to dig out the area a third time to allow for a threat of high water again.

Upgrades have been approved for years, but work only started this month after an extensive study.  City engineer Josh Mickleborough says there are several factors that have caused more water to flow through the area than originally intended.

"Additional urbanization and development, with all of the hard surfaces, contributes to increased runoff but then there's also more drainage work on farmland as we face pressures to be more productive with land in general."

So far, it's just work on the creek itself and a re-establishment of the walking path.  A culvert upgrade is also needed for the water pass beneath the road but that won't likely happen for a number of years.  The study and the current work are already worth an estimated $270,000.