The Construction and Design Branch provides design, construction and regulatory services.  The bulk of the work performed is as an ‘in-house’ engineering service provider for the Corporation.  Major activities include functional and detailed designs; land development management; construction and project management services; technical support services; drafting and design; surveying; utility installation approvals; permitting (Right-of-Way Use, Demolition, Boulevard Crossing); approval of  water and sewer infrastructure as part of the building permit process; and customer water and sewer utility connection management.  The Branch also provides civil engineering services to all the other departments as the need arises, including surveying and drafting for the Landfill; inspection of curb crossings; drafting of recycling depots; field testing; commissioning of new (public or private) potable water and sewer infrastructure; and stewardship of City boulevards during private development.

Our work is primarily for four clients: 

1. Land Branch 
   • Residential and industrial subdivision design and construction (land, water and sewer and roadways)
   • Urban design upgrading (streetscaping)
2. Transportation
   • Transportation infrastructure (roads and interchanges)
   • Capacity reconstruction
   • Management of Right-of-Way Use permits and Curb Crossing permits
3. Strategic Services
   • Trunk sewer and primary watermain construction
   • Rehabilitation and reconstruction of all civic infrastructure including roads, bridges, interchanges and water and sewer
   • Management and coordination of all residential and commercial connections to the City's utility mains
4. Public Works
   • Management and repair of water and sewer connections

Engineers, drafting technologists, construction inspectors and surveyors provide engineering and quality control services to ensure that the City's infrastructure components are built to cost-effective municipal standards.  The Branch develops and maintains standards and specifications, and produces and maintains comprehensive records and mapping of all infrastructure components and their construction.  A city-wide network of benchmarks to provide horizontal and vertical referencing for public and private construction purposes are also installed and maintained by the Branch.  Additional responsibilities lie in the approval of new construction applications and the enforcement of construction standards and specifications.