Winter 2023
Stage 2 O-TrainLight Rail Transit Project (LRT) West Extension
Tunney’s Pasture to Kìchì Sìbì Station
Winter 2023OVERVIEWThe O-Train West Extension is one of the three major extensions to Ottawa’s Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project. The extension will add over 15 km of new rail and 11 new stations between Tunney’s Pasture to Moodie Drive and Tunney’s Pasture to Algonquin Station. It also comprises a maintenance and storage facility, 10 new bridges, 14 rehabilitated bridges and two tunnels. The O-Train West Extension will eliminate approximately 450,000 annual bus trips from the Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) Parkway.
This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities between Tunney’s Pasture Station and Kìchì Sìbì Station. While the project continues to progress into the New Year, residents in the area may be impacted by construction activities including hours of work, noise from crews and equipment as well as pedestrian and vehicle mobility.
Residents should be aware that throughout 2023, there will be an increased requirement for nightwork across the alignment, where permitted. Notifications to affected residents will precede all impactful activities occurring after 10:00 p.m., and a weekly summary of nightwork will also be shared with Councillor Leiper at the outset of each week. If you are interested in receiving a weekly update from the Councillor’s office, please contact Ben Inwood (Ben.Inwood@Ottawa.ca) to be added to their distribution list.
MAJOR WORKS LRT Guideway (Tunney’s Pasture Station to Kìchì Sìbì Station)
Construction of the guideway began in July 2022, following the successful closure of the Transitway corridor between Tunney’s Pasture and the SJAM and in conjunction with the Scott Street transit detour. This opened-up the full guideway for LRT construction between Tunney’s Pasture Station and Kìchì Sìbì Station.
Activities in the existing trench have focused on earthworks, including asphalt removal, rock breaking, excavation and hauling. Other activities include rock wall treatment of the Transitway walls, involving chipping, scaling, grinding, shotcrete (sprayed concrete), and rock stabilization (rock anchors).
In preparation for track installation, extensive drainage channels and duct banks that run the entire length of the corridor are being established. The drainage channels ensure that rainwater is removed from the track area. The duct system carries hundreds of miles of conduit for communications, train control and traction electrification systems. Installation of the drainage system began in 2022 and will be a priority in 2023, including the continued rehabilitation of a one-kilometer culvert underneath the guideway in this area.
In 2022, most of the underground foundations for the overhead catenary system (OCS) poles (required as part of the electric power system for the train) were installed. The installation of the remaining foundations will be completed in early 2023.
Priorities over the next several months in the guideway will also include pile drilling and rehabilitation of existing structures (i.e. bridges, culverts), followed by spreading sub-ballast and ballast, which are located immediately beneath and surrounding the ties, and hold the track in place.
It is anticipated the guideway will be handed over to the track team for track installation in late summer, 2023.
Pictured above: Scott Street transit detour, LRT guideway, and temporary Transitway bridgeWestboro StationWestboro Station was demolished in the fall of 2022.
Excavation of the trench at Westboro Station is required in preparation for construction of the new LRT station and is currently underway. It is expected that excavation should be completed early in the new year, at which time the station will be handed over to the station contractor to begin construction. Station construction will occur within the trench and will begin with concrete formwork, the pouring of the concrete foundations, walls, and the station concourse. Upon completion, construction will transition to the erection of structural steel, installation of utility connections, as well as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work.
Pictured above: Westboro Station demolitionKìchì Sìbì Station AreaThe Kìchì Sìbì Station area has seen a great deal of construction activity since last summer, beginning with utilities work and continuing with rock-breaking, excavation, support of excavation, drilling (for rock stabilization) and hauling. This level of activity is required to widen the existing Transitway trench to build the guideway. These works will continue in January and February 2023, until the station area is handed over to the station contractor in early 2023.
Adjustments to pedestrian and cycling mobility have included maintaining connections to the new eastbound and westbound Dominion bus stops located on the north and south of the guideway, east of the SJAM parkway. As excavation of Kichi Sibi Station area progresses westward, a temporary pedestrian bridge will provide ongoing connectivity to the Dominion bus stops and across the Kichi Sibi Station excavation site. The installation of the temporary pedestrian bridge is anticipated in January. The pedestrian bridge will remain in service until the opening of Kichi Sibi Station concourse, connecting the north and south sides of the guideway.
Site preparation will also begin early in the new year for the installation of a traction power substation (TPSS), just west of Kìchì Sìbì Station. TPSS’s are small steel buildings, similar in size to a shipping container, and are used to convert alternating current (AC) electricity from the local power supply to direct current (DC) electricity to generate consistent power to operate the light rail vehicles.
After site preparation, crews will install the duct banks that will connect the TPSS to the rail line.
Pictured above: Kìchì Sìbì Station Area
COMMUNITY IMPACTS
Daytime hours of construction are Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Sunday and on Statutory Holidays. However, there will be requirements for overnight and weekend work, where permitted. Night work is needed to accommodate work that cannot be done during the day (i.e. work that will have significant traffic impacts) or for works that are required to meet the schedule on this large and complex project.
Site lighting for overnight work will be required. Crews will place and/or direct the light to mitigate impact on residents.
Noise and vibration from crews and heavy equipment can be expected. Trucks use approved haul routes and workers and contractors park in designated parking areas. Snow clearing (including MUPs, pathways, and pedestrian bridges), street sweeping and cleaning will be ongoing along truck routes and around construction zones.
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 we work 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.
Note: this notice is only distributed electronically
To ensure you receive Stage 2 LRT updates, please click this link to sign-up.
If you require a printed Notice, please email meghan.alexander@ottawa.ca.
CONTACT USWork will be ongoing in these areas. Construction updates, including changes to work sequencing and duration or impact of this work will be communicated via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter. To receive electronic updates, Public Notices, and Lookaheads please sign up at Ottawa.ca/Stage2connect and select updates for “Tunney’s Pasture Station, Westboro Station, and/or Kìchì Sìbì Station”. To connect on Instagram @stage2etape2
For other accommodations, or any questions, please contact:
Meghan Alexander
Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program, City of Ottawa
Meghan.alexander@ottawa.ca
www.ottawa.ca/stage2
