July to September 2021
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 Sherbourne Station and Lincoln Fields 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 are expected to continue to cause disruptions for area residents.
Major Works
Over the next few months, the Project focus will be around some critical activities including the continued relocation of utilities, drilling, excavation, and support of excavation activities. Future and ongoing work includes roadway works, bridge, tunnel, and station construction.
Byron Avenue
Utilities work along Byron Avenue between Woodroffe Avenue to Redwood Avenue is ongoing in some areas, including at Redwood Avenue where the West Nepean Collector work is expected to be completed in August, and west near McEwen and New Orchard Avenue. During the summer there will be intermittent closures along Byron Ave. to accommodate concrete pouring, and deliveries for construction activities.
Byron Linear Park
The Cut-and-Cover Tunnel in Byron Linear Park will be excavated to an approximate depth of 10.5 metres. Cut-and-Cover Tunnel construction operations are ongoing and will continue until 2023. Ongoing activities include excavation, support of excavation, drainage systems, anchoring, dewatering, waterproofing, and tunnel wall construction. Pile installations and drilling are mostly complete for support of excavation. Rock breaking will be ongoing, through the majority of the Byron Tunnel zones for tunnel excavation, from New Orchard to Redwood. Rock breaking is expected to be done in 2022. Concrete placement of tunnel walls will be ongoing through summer.
A traffic shift will be constructed in July at Richmond and Cleary to allow Tunnel work to progress, which will also shift the construction access onto Richmond.
A substantial amount of critical work has been completed on Woodroffe at Richmond, including the relocation of a watermain and the installation of temporary decking at the intersection. This enables work to advance on the Cut-and-Cover Tunnel excavation beneath this intersection, while traffic mobility is maintained.
McEwen Avenue and Edgeworth Avenue
Work on the relocation of a sanitary line, resulting in the temporary closure and realigned sidewalk along McEwen Avenue, is still ongoing. Crews and equipment are working on Edgeworth throughout summer for the relocation of underground storm, water and sanitary lines, which involves a road closure, rock breaking, removals, and operation of heavy machinery.
At Richmond and Lincoln Fields, Cut-and-Cover Tunnel work is ongoing and will advance across Richmond Road in July. A sidewalk and traffic shift are required prior to the installation of roadway decking at Richmond and McEwen for Cut-and- Cover Tunnel work, in order to maintain mobility. Utilities relocation work will be ongoing along Richmond at Hartleigh, after a delay, and at Midway, during July and August.
Lincoln Fields to Connaught Park
The utilities relocation along Carling is largely complete, as work on key structures advances. Support of excavation for the bridge structure along Carling has begun, and a multi-use pathway detour and access road have been constructed on the south side. Cut-and-Cover Tunnel operations are well underway with pile drilling and excavation continuing throughout the summer months on the north side. This work is similar to the ongoing tunnel operations in Byron Linear Park. Lincoln Fields Station construction continues until 2023. South of Carling Avenue construction on the split-structure bridge continues with girder and panel work. The new Woodroffe pedestrian bridge construction will underway through the fall; once complete the current bridge will be removed in 2022.
Construction of the new Woodroffe Pedestrian Bridge is underway and expected to be available for public use next year, at which point the existing pedestrian bridge will be removed. Work at the split-structure bridge in Connaught Park continues on the final girders, panels, and diaphragm. The retaining walls on the north side will finish construction in 2022.
Cut-and-Cover Tunnel and trench excavation is making progress from the Pinecrest interchange toward Connaught Avenue, adjacent to the highway and is anticipated to reach Connaught Avenue in late July. In the area of Connaught Avenue, there is some rock at lower depths that will be excavated. As drilling work advances, excavation will soon follow. After the sections are fully excavated, formwork and walls will be built. The Byron Linear Park’s Cut-and-Cover Tunnel work provides a look at what’s to come for this area, and the steps involved in the construction of the Connaught Tunnel.
Queensview
Cut and cover tunnel drilling is progressing well at Queensview Station and at the OC Transpo building, and moving toward Connaught Park in July, utilizing several drill rigs. When the drilling is complete in a section, providing necessary supports, crews will begin the excavation.
Stormwater and sanitary line relocation are ongoing near the Ottawa Police Services property on Queensview and is expected to be completed in August. In late July at Pinecrest Road and Highway 417, crews will be working on a watermain relocation through the fall, which will involve rock breaking. It is anticipated that there will not be any overnight work.
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 overnight work and intermittent weekend work.
Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected. Noise and vibration levels are continuously monitored and reported to the City to ensure they are within the limits established for the Project.
Trucks will use approved haul routes. Workers and contractors will park in designated parking areas.
Street sweeping and dust suppression will be ongoing as needed.
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.
Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists should adhere to all posted signage, speed limits and mobility movements and use extra caution when travelling in the area to ensure safety, as patterns change.
For residents whose property borders the affected construction zones, equipment in the area may cause additional noise and occasional vibration as the work progresses. The City of Ottawa thanks residents for their patience as we work to complete these construction activities.
Reminder: 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
Work will be ongoing in these areas. 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. For other accommodations, or any questions, please contact:
Damon Berlin
Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program
City of Ottawa
damon.berlin@ottawa.ca
ottawa.ca/stage2
