90-Day Look Ahead from Jan 2022 – Lincoln Fields to Pinecrest Stations

OVERVIEW

The O-Train West Extension is one of the three major extensions to Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit Project. The extension will add over 15 km of new rail and 11 new stations between Tunney’s Pasture to Moodie Drive and to Algonquin station. It also comprises a maintenance and storage facility, 10 new bridges, 14 rehabilitated bridges and 2 Cut-and-Cover Tunnels.
 
This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities between Connaught Park and Queensview Station, as well as the expected community impacts including hours of work, noise from crews and equipment, pedestrian, and vehicle mobility etc. While solid progress on the project is being made, construction activities can be expected to continue to cause disruptions for area residents.

Residents should be aware that throughout 2022, there will be an increased requirement for nightwork across the alignment. Additional notifications to affected residents will precede all impactful nightwork activities and a weekly summary of nightwork will also be shared at the outset of each week. If you would like to receive the weekly updates, please email damon.berlin@ottawa.ca to be added to the distribution list.

MAJOR WORKS

The winter season activities between Connaught Park and Pinecrest interchange will be concentrated on the advancement of drilling and excavation for the Connaught Cut-and-Cover Tunnel construction. Dewatering operations will also be ongoing in multiple areas, which involves pumps and large containment tanks to remove ground and surface water from construction zones.

Lincoln Fields

Operations continue at Lincoln Fields, on Carling Avenue, and into Connaught Park along the Transitway. Traffic lanes were shifted on Carling Avenue in the fall to enable advancement of Carling Bridge (where the guideway passes beneath Carling Avenue) and guideway construction. Cut-and-Cover Tunnel construction continues at the north end of Lincoln Fields to Richmond Road and into Byron Linear Park. The Lincoln Fields Station construction will continue this winter with structural steel, walls, and escalators being installed.
 
South of Carling Avenue, the new Woodroffe Pedestrian Bridge construction continues through winter with delivery of steel trusses in January. The targeted bridge completion is spring 2022, and the existing bridge will be removed after the new structure is opened to the public.

Connaught Park

From Lincoln Fields to Connaught Avenue, Cut-and-Cover Tunnel progress continues with drilling, excavation, and dewatering operations. Preparations for the start of structural work will take place, as well as soil sampling. The flyover bridge construction will pause during the winter months. Following excavation, formwork will be installed, and walls will be poured.

Queensview Station

The ongoing Cut-and-Cover Tunnel work is advancing from Connaught Avenue along Queensview Drive adjacent to Highway 417, to Pinecrest interchange. Drilling, excavation, rock breaking, and dewatering activities will be ongoing this winter. Closer to Pinecrest interchange, relocation of manholes will take place through March.

The future Queensview Station site activities will continue with installation of piping, mechanical equipment, and electrical services, with station structure construction starting in April.

Pinecrest Interchange

From Queensview Drive, parallel to Highway 417, westward to Pinecrest interchange, Cut-and-Cover Tunnel operations are advancing with ongoing soil excavation, rock breaking, drilling, and support of excavation. Utilities east of Pinecrest, are being relocated, including storm and sanitary sewers, as well as drainage work.

The new temporary bus-only off-ramp at Pinecrest interchange is now open, maintaining traffic flow while allowing construction of the LRT to proceed below. There is an open trench on the east side, under the off-ramp, that transitions the Connaught Tunnel from Queensview onto the guideway westward to Pinecrest interchange.

The westbound 417 off-ramp is now closed for an extended period of construction until summer of 2023, and there is a newly opened on-ramp for Pinecrest Road northbound to Highway 417 westbound.

A new bus turnaround area to the northwest of the interchange is being constructed, with final paving in spring, for use during the Transitway closure in June 2022. Roadwork and utilities relocation have been completed on Greenbank Road and Lisa Avenue to accommodate buses during the Transitway detour.

COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Most work is scheduled to occur from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. However, throughout the notice period, there will be requirements for work until 10:00 p.m., as well as overnight and weekend work.
 
Night work is needed at times to accommodate work that requires traffic closures that cannot be done during the day, thus mitigating impacts on the travelling public. In addition, for works that are schedule critical, night work may be required, following a Public Notice, to meet the schedule on this large and complex project.

For residents whose property borders the affected construction zones, equipment in the area may cause additional noise and occasional vibration as the work progresses. Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment are expected during. Trucks will use approved haul routes. Workers and contractors will park in designated parking areas. Kiewit-Eurovia-Vinci (KEV) will be managing winter maintenance in areas in and around of LRT construction sites.
 
All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction, with some detours. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place and adhere to all posted signage, when travelling to ensure safety, as patterns may have changed.

The City of Ottawa thanks residents for their patience as KEV works to complete these construction activities.
 
Accessibility is an important consideration for the Stage 2 LRT project. The Stage 2 team makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require special accommodation, please contact stage2@ottawa.ca.

The safety of the public and the workers is paramount, and we thank you for your patience during construction.
 
The construction work outlined in this notice is subject to change. Work may be delayed or extended due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

CONTACT US

Additional construction updates, such as changes to work sequencing and the duration or impact of this work will be communicated via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter. To receive these electronic updates please sign up at Ottawa.ca/Stage2connect and select updates for “Lincoln Fields Station”, “Queensview Station” and/or “Pinecrest Station”. For other accommodations, or any questions, please contact:

Damon Berlin
Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program
City of Ottawa
damon.berlin@ottawa.ca
www.ottawa.ca/stage2