So I've been noticing that some notice / progress events are hidden in the news feed on the Stage 2 website and are not always brought forward. Not sure if its something that can be discussed with the Stage 2 team to see if there is a better solution possible, but I have not been that impressed by the newsletters so far?

 

EDIT: I might simply be having issue with my subscription to the newsletter, but I wish we got more regular updates similar to what was done for Stage 1. Or even some sort of "progress" chart / timeline. Also higher resolution photos. But thats just me being picky.

I agree. The updates are more sporadic than Stage 1's weekly postings.

I think I am also having issues getting their emails. I haven't gotten a monthly update in several months and I now have 3 separate email accounts signed up. I do get the construction notices usually though.

Project Newsletters

Stay informed of progress by subscribing to Stage 2 LRT project newsletter (link is external).

View newsletter archive (link is external).

The updates and newsletters are a disorganized mess.

I registered for the newsletters a few times. For all extensions. French and English.

I think I only ever received one French construction update (last week) that entire time. I don't think I ever receive the monthly updates. I maybe receive most of the construction notices, but not all of them. 

Q4 2020 Quarterly update highlights:

 

• The Goldenrod Bridge at Tunney's is set to be completed in Q2 2021, which will enable the removal of the temporary embarkment bridge buses use to access the bus loop from Scott, and thus extend tracks west;
• Support for excavation at Rochester field and New Orchard started Q4 2020;
• The new Lincoln Fields station construction is expected to start Q2 2021;
• New Iris Street bridge set to start Q3 2021, with station Q2 2022;
• Baseline bus loop complete in Q4 2020, with bus operator building set to be constructed Q2 2021;
• Montreal Station bridge construction set to start Q1 2021;
• Construction of a new Trim/174 intersection started Q4 2020 and is ongoing.

Edited March 1, 20215 yr by J.OT13

TransLink has released architectural schematics and preliminary conceptual renderings of the interior and exterior of all Millennium Broadway extension stations. This is in stark contrast with Ottawa, that had released the preliminary rendering from the two team RFP submissions, and a few extra renderings here and there.

Here are some features of the Vancouver project: 

 

• The new Broadway stations will feature elevators, stairs and both up and down escalators. 
• All stations will feature a concourse level. 
• Every station will include 3,300 square feet of retail. 
• No public washrooms are planned for the project, but space will be set aside at Arbutus (the terminus until the line is extended to UBC) and Broadway-City Hall (transfer between Millennium and Canada Lines). 
• Arbutus Station and Great Northern Way Station will have secure bike parkades. 
• Stations will only have one entrance, with a second emergency exit only. 
• Stations are designed for additional entrances in the future.

Stations seem very similar to current and planned underground stations in Ottawa, with simple/functional designs and low ceilings. Vancouver has a few extra features like up and down escalators and retail at all stations, but we have more entrances at busier stations, and washrooms at transfer stations. 

Vancouver's Broadway stations are all underground as this was necessary due to the route while in Ottawa, there was always an opportunity to make them above ground or open air trenches. 

Here is the DailyHive article with dozens of renderings and cross-sections of the Boradway subway stations: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/broadway-subway-skytrain-millennium-line-extension-station-designs

O-Train East Extension: Construction Activities and Community Impacts

90-Day Lookahead - March to June 2021

The O-Train East Extension is one of the three major extensions to Ottawa’s light rail transit system. The extension will add over 12 km of new rail and 5 new stations (Montreal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans, and Trim) between Blair Road and Trim Road.  The LRT will travel predominantly within the median of Highway 174.

In 2021, heavy construction will take place throughout the east alignment as crews build rail, pedestrian and road bridges, new highway lanes, the rail guideway (dedicated rail line) and begin station construction. While it is exciting to see progress on the LRT project, some of these activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including intermittent night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area.
 
This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities along the O-Train East LRT project alignment, as well as the expected community impacts including hours of work, noise from crews and equipment, pedestrian, and vehicle mobility, etc.

 

MAJOR WORKS 

Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge
Work continues to progress on the Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge, 800 metres east of the OR174 Blair Road Interchange. In April, girders (horizontal supports for the bridge) will be laid on top of the columns, followed by the installation of decking. The Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge structure will be completed in the Summer 2021, with track work to follow.

Blair Road to Montreal Road
Last year, new eastbound and westbound highway traffic lanes were constructed on the south side of the 174, between Blair Road and Montreal Road to create space for the LRT guideway. Crews and equipment in the area, are now removing the asphalt and concrete from the old highway in the median. This work is occurring daytime and overnight until September.
 
Montréal Station
In January, crews and equipment began building a new bridge within the median of OR174 across Montreal Road, at the Highway 174 Interchange. This new bridge is required to create enough space for the LRT guideway and the new Montréal Station.
 
Through March, construction activities for the bridge include excavation and drilling caissons – part of the bridge foundations. From March through June, activities will include the completion of the bridge’s columns, abutments, and pier caps. This will require lane reductions along Montreal Road.

Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard
In November 2020, crews and equipment began work to modify the access to Jeanne d’Arc on-ramps at OR174.  This is required to create safer connections for pedestrians and cyclists on the Jeanne d’Arc bridge. While this work continues, there will also be on-going electrical and utility work required prior to the construction of the new Jeanne d’Arc LRT station, beginning in May 2021.  In addition, work on the guideway including the installation of drainage in the median between Sir George Etienne Parkway to Orléans Boulevard Overpass began in February. This work will continue throughout the year.
 
Orléans Boulevard
Work continues at Orléans Boulevard, north and south of the 174, to relocate utilities, including a watermain, storm and sanitary sewer and gas line.  On the west side of Orléans Boulevard, a culvert to improve drainage will be installed. This work will continue through June 2021.Trim
A new watermain and sewer line is being installed to service the future Trim LRT Station and bus
facility. At the same time, construction of a new eastbound off-ramp, and a future realignment of Trim
Road will begin with topsoil removal, embankment, and granular placement.

 
A road closure at Dairy Drive, from the traffic circle of Trim Road, to the Agropur Cooperative began in February. The Agropur Cooperative will remain accessible via Old Montreal Road (east of Trim Road). Closure of South Frontage, between the OC Transpo Park and Ride / Trim Station and Dairy Drive will continue until July 2021. The OC Transpo Park and Ride and Trim Station access to southbound Trim Road will be maintained via the construction of a detour route.   These activities are required to create a cul de sac which will facilitate the work for the future site of Trim Station.

Place d’Orléans
Beginning in April, significant construction activities will begin near Place d’Orléans with rock excavation. Hoe-ramming will be required to break up the bedrock. Excavation is also required to realign the 174 north and south of the existing highway to move traffic to make room for the work to build the guideway and the Place d’Orléans Station. There will be further rock excavation required for the guideway and station. The rock breaking and excavation work will continue through July 2021. Utilities work, such as drainage installation, will
continue through the Spring this year.

Trim
A new watermain and sewer line is being installed to service the future Trim LRT Station and bus
facility. At the same time, construction of a new eastbound off-ramp, and a future realignment of Trim
Road will begin with topsoil removal, embankment, and granular placement.
 
A road closure at Dairy Drive, from the traffic circle of Trim Road, to the Agropur Cooperative began in February. The Agropur Cooperative will remain accessible via Old Montreal Road (east of Trim Road). Closure of South Frontage, between the OC Transpo Park and Ride / Trim Station and Dairy Drive will continue until July 2021. The OC Transpo Park and Ride and Trim Station access to southbound Trim Road will be maintained via the construction of a detour route.   These activities are required to create a cul de sac which will facilitate the work for the future site of Trim Station.

 

COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Typically, most work is scheduled to occur from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There will be requirements for overnight work across the entire corridor, and some intermittent weekend work, Throughout the year.
 
Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected.
 
Site lighting for overnight work will be required. 
 
All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place.
 
Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.
 

CONTACT US

This notice provides an overview of activities expected to occur until June 2021. Specific timing of activities, including road closures or detours, overnight activities or other major works, will be communicated in advance via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter.
 
 
For questions, please contact:
Dianna Ashworth
Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program
City of Ottawa
dianna.ashworth1@ottawa.ca 
www.ottawa.ca/stage2

Place d’Orléans
Beginning in April, significant construction activities will begin near Place d’Orléans with rock excavation. Hoe-ramming will be required to break up the bedrock. Excavation is also required to realign the 174 north and south of the existing highway to move traffic to make room for the work to build the guideway and the Place d’Orléans Station. There will be further rock excavation required for the guideway and station. The rock breaking and excavation work will continue through July 2021. Utilities work, such as drainage installation, will
continue through the Spring this year.

O-Train West Extension: Construction Activities and Community Impacts  

Ward 15 – Tunney’s Pasture to Sherbourne Stations

90-Day Lookahead - March to June 2021

The 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 to Algonquin Station. The O-Train West Extension will eliminate approximately 450,000 annual bus trips from the Sir John A. MacDonald (SJAM) Parkway. It also comprises a maintenance and storage facility, 10 new bridges, 14 rehabilitated bridges and 2 tunnels.

Important progress will be made this year on this exciting project. Construction crews and equipment are continuing work to complete drainage, utilities relocation, structural and road works, and tunnel construction in the areas surrounding the future sites of Westboro, Kìchì Sìbì and Sherbourne stations. 

This notice provides an overview of construction activities that will take place in Ward 15 as well as the expected community impacts including traffic, pedestrian and cyclist detours, increased noise and vibrations from construction crews, vehicles, and equipment as well as intermittent weekend and overnight work. 
 

MAJOR WORKS

Tunney’s Pasture Station area
Construction work continues on the deck of the Goldenrod Bridge at Tunney’s Pasture, which will be followed by the installation of parapets and railings. The bridge is expected to be completed in July 2021. Once completed, the bridge will remain open for pedestrians, cyclists, and bus only traffic during construction.



Westboro Station area
At Churchill Avenue North at the SJAM Parkway, road and pedestrian detours will be maintained for the continued construction of the Churchill pedestrian underpass which is expected to be completed in the Spring 2022.

                       

Kìchì Sìbì Station area
The Roosevelt Pedestrian Bridge, connecting Workman and Roosevelt Avenues will be demolished in May. Pedestrian detours, east to Churchill Avenue and west to the SJAM parkway, will be maintained once the bridge is removed. Work to install these detours as well as utilities relocation will begin in March.

At Kitchissippi Lookout, the following work will be taking place until June: utilities relocation at Atlantis Avenue, drainage work, widening of the SJAM Parkway westbound lane and intersection roadwork at the median turning lanes. Motorists can expect temporary lane closures. 

Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway (SJAM)
Installation of excavation support is ongoing for the SJAM Parkway tunnel between Cleary Avenue and Rochester Park. The tunnel will eventually travel between Kìchì Sìbì and Lincoln Fields stations travelling underneath the SJAM and Byron Linear Park. The slurry plant near 655 Richmond Road is producing slurry required for the construction of slurry walls, which will support tunnel excavation. Several trucks per day will bring materials to service the slurry plant, accessing the site from the SJAM Parkway. The excavated material from the slurry walls will be hauled to slurry pits at Rochester Field, and then loaded out and transported to an approved landfill site. The slurry plant will remain operational into 2022. 

COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Typically, most work is scheduled to occur from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There will be requirements for overnight work across the entire corridor, and some intermittent weekend work. 

Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected. In addition, noise and vibration levels resulting from this work are monitored and reported to the City to ensure they are within limits established for the Project.

Site lighting for overnight work will be required.  

Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors. 

Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place. The safety of workers and the public is paramount. Construction zone signage and fencing must be respected at all times. 

Your patience during construction is an integral part of the success of the project. 

CONTACT US

This notice provides an overview of activities expected to occur until June 2021. Specific timing of activities, including road closures or detours, overnight activities or other major works, will be communicated in advance via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter. 

For other accommodations, or any questions, please contact:
 
Jessica Maxwell
Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program 
City of Ottawa 
Jessica.Maxwell@ottawa.ca
www.ottawa.ca/stage2  

Stage 2 O-Train East Extension: Spring 2021 Information Session

O-Train East Extension Overview 

Work is well underway to extend the O-Train East-West Line from Blair Station to Trim Road. The O-Train East extension will see the Light-Rail Transit (LRT) continue from Blair Station to Trim Road, adding 12 kilometres of rail; 5 new stations to the O-Train network at Montreal Road, Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans, and Trim Road; 4 new bridges; 6 bridges rehabilitated; 1 pedestrian bridge; and 3 major culverts.

The O-Train East Line will travel predominantly within the median of Highway 174 between Blair Road and Trim Road, providing stations that are equal distance from communities on either side.

 

 

Here is the plan for the East extension schedule:

 

 

Looking back at 2020

In 2020, the main objective on the East extension was the relocation of infrastructure, including various utilities such as sewers, hydro lines, watermains, natural gas and telecommunications infrastructure in the OR174 corridor at Green’s Creek, Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Orléans Boulevard and Champlain Street to set the stage for the future track and station construction in the median. In November, crews worked over five weeks and weekends to make room for the future Montréal Station and tracks. This work was critical to enable the demolition of the existing bridges over the course of the first weekend in December 2020 and the start of the deep foundation for the station.

 

Montreal Road Bridges Demolition in December 2020

 

Fast-forward to 2021

In 2021, heavy construction will take place throughout the East alignment as crews build rail, pedestrian and road bridges, new highway lanes, the rail guideway and begin station construction. While it is exciting to see progress on the LRT project, some of these activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including intermittent night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area.

The City of Ottawa’s Rail Construction Program continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and is in contact with the constructors about adhering to guidance provided by Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario. Construction schedules and sequencing are subject to change as work progresses, at the discretion of the project contractor.

Should there be any significant changes to this information, and as additional construction activities are scheduled through 2021, the public will be updated via electronic updates. Please sign-up for Stage 2 e-newsletter updates, specifying the extensions and stations of interest, to receive updates targeted for those areas.

Here is what you can expect to occur in 2021 in terms of major activities:

Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge

Work continues to progress on the Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge. The new rail bridge will bring the O-Train East from the north side of the highway into the OR174 median, where the guideway will remain until reaching the terminus station at Trim Road.

In April 2021, girders (horizontal supports for the bridge) will be laid on top of the columns, followed by the installation of decking. The Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge structure will be completed in the Summer 2021, with track work to follow in the Fall 2021.

Roadwork continues on the westbound OR 174 lanes. Anticipated completion of the lanes is September 2021.

 

South side view of the 174 Median Rail Bridge where crews and equipment continue work on the bridge

 

174 Median Rail Bridge to Montreal Road Interchange

Roadwork continues between Blair Road and Montreal Road. Crews and equipment are removing asphalt and concrete as seen in the picture below from the old highway in the median.

Once the rail bridge construction is completed, all traffic on the OR174 will be shifted to its new alignment allowing for guideway construction to begin in the median. This work will take place from April-December 2021.

Currently, eastbound and westbound traffic are directed to the south side of the existing median allowing for the continued construction of the 174 Median Rail bridge. The construction of new westbound lanes on the north side will be completed September 2021.

 

Eastbound aerial view of OR174 west of Montreal Road where crews are breaking up concrete and asphalt remaining from the old highway lanes in the centre median, necessary to create the space required for the LRT guideway.

 

Montréal Station

Montréal Station will be located above Montreal Road within the median of OR174. Construction on the Montréal Station will start in September 2021 with a completion target date of March 2023.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Montreal Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Montréal Station
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	40
Benches	4
Fare Gates	8

Crews and equipment continue to work hard to transform the future Montréal Station area. New station decking is being built within the median of the OR174 Interchange, across Montreal Road for the LRT guideway and tracks. The first rail spike is expected to go into the ground in in the Fall east of Montreal Road, a major milestone for the entire Stage 2 project.

Bridge construction and station excavation will continue until September 2021. Construction activities will include the completion of bridge columns, abutments, and pier caps.

Beginning on April 8, commuters will experience traffic impacts on Montreal Road for approximately three months to create a safe work zone. North side vehicular lanes under the OR174 overpass will be closed and south side lanes will be repurposed to accommodate bi-directional traffic. As a result, vehicular lanes will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

All pedestrians and cycling movements will be maintained via the newly improved multi-use pathway on the south side of Montreal Road.

The Montreal Road northwest ramp realignment will take place from June to July 2021 while the guideway (median) work will start in October 2021.

 

Aerial view of Montreal Road Interchange where crews and equipment continue to work in the median prior to start building a new bridge for the Montréal Station

 

Montreal Road Interchange to Jeanne d’Arc

Westbound OR174 widening between Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway and Green’s Creek will start in July 2021 while guideway (median) work will be completed September 2021.

Work on a pedestrian bridge at Green’s Creek recently started and is targeted to be completed in Summer 2021.

Jeanne d’Arc Station

Construction on the future Jeanne d’Arc Station will start in May 2021 with a completion target date of January 2023. The station will be built at-grade with access to elevated boulevard and a multi-use pathway from Fortune Drive will also be accessible from the station.

Improvements to the intersection north of the future station are being made as part of the Stage 2 project. All traffic movement entering or existing the OR 174 will be controlled with a signalized intersection that will provide dedicated pedestrian crossing.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Jeanne D'Arc Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Jeanne d’Arc Station
Number of Entrances	2
Fare Gates	8
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	40
Bus Connections	Yes

Crews continue work on Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard on-ramps at OR174 to shift lanes in order to make space for future tracks in the median. Work is to be completed May 2021.

While this work continues, there will also be on-going electrical and utility work required prior to the construction of the new Jeanne d’Arc station. Guideway (median) work continues until September 2021.

Convent Glen Station

Station excavation starts September 2021 while construction on the future Convent Glen Station will start in October 2021 with a completion anticipated in spring 2023. The station will be built at-grade with access to Orléans Boulevard.

The Orléans Boulevard bridge is being reconfigured to allow bi-directional cycle tracks, a MUP, and dedicated bus lanes. Vehicular lanes over the bridge will be reduced to one lane each direction.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Convent Glen Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

 

Orléans Boulevard bridge reconfiguration.

 

Convent Glen Station
Number of Entrances	2
Fare Gates	8
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	40

Work continues at Orléans Boulevard, north and south of the 174, to relocate utilities. On the west side of Orléans Boulevard, a culvert to improve drainage will be installed. This work will continue through June 2021.

Roadwork to facilitate the widening of the OR174 eastbound and westbound will take place from June-August 2021 while guideway (median) work starts September 2021.

 

Eastbound view of the OR174 where crews and equipment continue to work on utilities at Orléans Boulevard.

 

Place d’Orléans Station

Station excavation will begin in May 2021 while construction on the future Place d’Orléans Station will start July 2021 with a completion target date of January 2023.

The station will be built at-grade with access to elevated boulevard and will be connected to Place d’Orléans Bus Rapid Transitway.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Place D'Orleans Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Place d’Orléans Station
Number of Entrances	4
Fare Gates	16
Elevators	6
Escalator	1
Bike Parking Spaces	40
Washrooms	Yes
Bus Connections	Yes

Significant construction activities will take place near Place d’Orléans during 2021. Excavation will be required to realign the OR174 north and south of the existing highway to move traffic to make room for the work to build the guideway, which will take place from May-August 2021. The widening of OR174 will take place until May 2021.

Utilities work at Place d’Orléans, such as drainage installation, will continue through the Spring 2021.

 

Westbound view of south side OR174 where crews and equipment doing excavation work to prepare for the widening of the OR174.

 

Tenth Line and Taylor’s Creek areas

Eastbound and westbound OR174 widening will take place from June to September 2021 to make space for the guideway. Once space is created, guideway work will begin in September 2021.

Trim Station

Station excavation starts September 2021 for the future Trim Station. The start of station construction is anticipated in November 2021 with a completion expected in Fall 2023.

The station will be built at-grade with access to an elevated boulevard and will have a 60m pedestrian overpass connecting to the Trim and Park and Ride.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Trim Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Trim Station
Number of Entrances	2
Fare Gates	6
Elevators	4
Escalator	2
Bike Parking Spaces	60
Washrooms	Yes
Bus Connections	Yes

In order to make space for the future station, Trim Road needs to be realigned. The OR174 and Trim Road intersection will be shifted to the east and wrap around the east side of the park and ride to join the traffic circle and follow the existing alignment. Pedestrian and cycling connectivity is in the process of being finalized.

 

Planned Trim Road realignment.

 

A new drainage system is being currently installed to service the future Trim LRT Station and bus facility. Work will continue until October 2021.

At the same time, construction of a new eastbound off-ramp, and a future realignment of Trim Road will begin with topsoil removal, embankment, and granular placement with a completion expected in August 2021.

 

View of Trim Road area at OR174 where crews and equipment doing ground excavation for the installation of new utilities.

 

Community Impacts

Residents can expect the following planned mobility impacts during construction. All mobility impacts will be communicated to residents prior to construction starting.

Location	Timeline	Traffic & Mobility Impacts
Montreal Road (under Highway 174)	Two months in Spring to Summer 2021	Two lanes of Montreal Road (one lane each direction) closed under Highway 174.
Highway 174	Weekends from April to September 2021	There will be anticipated weekend impacts on the OR 174. All impacts and traffic plans will be communicated ahead of work beginning.

Most work is scheduled to occur from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There will be requirements for overnight work and some 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.

Site lighting for overnight work will be required.

During roadworks, such as the widening of the OR174 to make space for the guideway (median), commuters can expect lane reductions and lane closures. Any impacts of the like will be communicated through public notifications via electronic newsletter.

All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place.

Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.

Stay Informed!

Stage 2 is committed to providing rapid responses to public inquires and proactive communications through newsletters, online articles, videos, social media updates, and public notices.

To receive electronic newsletter updates, please sign up at Ottawa.ca/Stage2Connect.

For any other questions or information regarding upcoming community meetings, please contact Stage2@ottawa.ca(link sends e-mail).

https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/major-projects/stage-2-light-rail-transit-project/project-updates#stage-2-o-train-east-extension-spring-2021-information-session

Your Guide to Stage 2 O-Train West Extension’s Slurry Plant

 

 

 

 

Over the last few months, many Ottawa residents driving along the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway (SJAM) may have seen what looks like an indoor golf driving range by the sight of a large white tent and two white silos (6m high) in the Kitchissippi Ward, near Cleary Avenue. The structure has nothing to do with sports. In fact, the site is called a slurry plant.

This plant is crucial to building two tunnels, key features of the O-Train’s west extension.

The three-kilometre Parkway tunnel will travel between Kichi Sibi and Lincoln Fields stations travelling underneath the SJAM and Byron Linear Park.

Construction of the tunnels has started, using a cut and cover technique, which in non-construction terms, is a top-down technique rather than a drilling method. Cut and cover construction involves using excavation equipment to dig a large trench or rectangular hole in the ground which is then covered by a concrete deck. Once the deck is in place, surface activity can largely resume as construction crews continue to work below.

What makes the tunnels unique is the use of slurry walls to support the excavation while digging proceeds. If crews just started digging, water and sand in the area would cause the new excavation to cave-in. These special walls made of mixture of bentonite (a type of clay), water, and cement with steel beams placed inside for strength are waterproof and strong enough to keep the hole from caving in when the crews dig the remaining area of the tunnel between the slurry walls.

As the dirt is dug out, it is replaced by slurry which is pumped from the slurry plant to where the digging is occurring through a series of pipes. The weight of the slurry keeps the hole from caving in. The wall is built with a series of panels, hop-scotched, at about one to two panels per day. When a panel is excavated and filled with slurry, steel beams are installed in the wet slurry. In a couple of days, the slurry dries and hardens (just like concrete) and then a portion of the slurry wall is complete. The process then repeats itself to continue to construct more walls.

When the crane continues to dig through the hole, it puts the excavated material (which contains a mixture of soil, bentonite, cement, dirt, water) into a dump truck which then hauls it to a storage and drying area called slurry pits at Rochester Field near the plant location. The slurry waste is left to dry before being trucked to the Trail Road landfill site.

 

The slurry pit process.

 

The slurry wall technique was first introduced during the excavation of the underground rapid transit system in Milan, Italy just after the end of World War II. This new technology became an important component of the top-down tunneling method also known as Metodo Milano ("Milan method"). It made its first rail construction appearance in North America in the 1980s when the Boston subway’s Red Line Northwest Extension project used the modern form of the technology.

Slurry will be mixed in this dedicated plant onsite and the slurry plant will be operational until approximately Spring 2022 when it’s anticipated slurry walls for the tunnels will be fully built.

 

The current slurry plant visible with two white cement silos and a large white tent. The large tent covers tanks, pumps, and other equipment used to produce slurry.

 

 

Aerial westbound view of the slurry plant. It will be operational until approximately April 2022.

Amazing work by EWC. 

 

Edited May 3, 20215 yr by J.OT13

O-Train West Extension Spring 2021 Update

 

 

 

 

Work is well underway to extend the O-Train West extension from Westboro Station to Moodie and Algonquin Stations.

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 includes a light maintenance and storage facility, 10 new bridges, 14 rehabilitated bridges and 2 cut and cover tunnels.

 

 

Looking back at 2020 progress

Throughout 2020, residents and commuters witnessed a great deal of construction activity in the west end of Ottawa, transforming the future of our transit system.

Last year, the goal on the West extension was to prepare for excavation on the two cut and cover tunnels underneath the Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) Parkway and Byron Linear Park. Before cut and cover tunnel construction could begin traffic needed to be shifted, and underground utilities relocated. An important milestone was reached in 2020 which saw the shift of the SJAM north side between Dominion Avenue and Cleary Avenue to allow for construction to safely occur on the south side.

 

 

Other significant work completed in the West included opening the road detour at Iris Station that permits multiple phasing of activities including the realignment of a culvert under Iris Street to accommodate future construction of the station and the LRT guideway; opening of a new bus loop at Algonquin Station; and building a temporary bus station at Lincoln Fields Station.

Upcoming Construction Activities in 2021

In 2021, heavy construction will take place throughout the West extension as crews dig and continue tunnel construction, relocate utilities, begin station construction, and install rail, guideway, and pedestrian and road bridges. While the progress being made is exciting, some of the activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including noise, dust, night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area.

The City of Ottawa’s Rail Construction Program continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and is in contact with the constructors about adhering to guidance provided by Ottawa Public Health and the Province of Ontario. Construction schedules and sequencing are subject to change as work progresses, at the discretion of the project contractor.

Should there be any significant changes to this information, and as additional construction activities are scheduled through 2021, the public will be updated via electronic updates. Please sign-up for Stage 2 e-newsletter updates, specifying the extensions and stations of interest, to receive updates targeted for those areas.

Here is a look at the upcoming major construction activities:

 

 

Goldenrod Bridge

Construction work continues on the deck of the Goldenrod Bridge at Tunney’s Pasture, followed by the installation of parapets and railings. The bridge is expected to be completed in July 2021. Once completed, the bridge will be open during construction for pedestrians, cyclists, and bus-only traffic. This bridge will facilitate bus movement during the bus detour, which will move busses off the Transitway in 2022. Following revenue service, the bridge will extend Goldenrod Avenue to Scott Street for mixed-use by pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and buses.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Goldenrod Bridge design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

 

Preparations are being made for concrete pouring of the Goldenrod bridge deck.

 

Westboro Station

Westboro Station is an existing Transitway station on the north of Scott Street between Tweedsmuir Avenue and Athlone Avenue. New light rail is being constructed where the existing bus rapid transit is located. The new main entrance will be located on Scott Street. Pedestrian connections linking the north and south side of the existing trench will be provided on both the east and west side of the station. Construction on Westboro Station will start in June 2022.

Westboro Station
Number of Entrances	2
Elevators	2
Passenger pick-up/drop-off	Yes
Bike Parking Spaces	40

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Westboro Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Kìchì Sìbì Station

Kìchì Sìbì Station is an existing Transitway station, between Dominion Avenue and Berkley Avenue. The new station will have access across the LRT guideway linking pedestrians and cyclists from Dominion Avenue to Workman Avenue with a direct connection to the National Capital Commission (NCC) multi-use pathway on the SJAM. Construction on the future Kìchì Sìbì Station will start in July 2022.

Kìchì Sìbì Station
Number of Entrances	1
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	2
Bike Parking Spaces	60
Fare Gates	5

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Kìchì Sìbì Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

The Roosevelt Pedestrian Bridge located east of Kìchì Sìbì Station and connecting Workman and Roosevelt Avenues will be demolished in June 2021 in order to construct a transit only bridge in the summer, as part of the future Transitway detour. Pedestrian detours, east to Churchill Avenue and west to the SJAM, will be maintained once the bridge is removed. Work to install these detours as well as utilities relocation began in the spring and will continue until November 2021. Motorists can expect traffic detours to facilitate this work on Scott Street starting in late-fall 2021.

 

Scott Street realignment and detour, expected to begin in Winter 2021.

 

At Churchill Avenue north at SJAM, road and pedestrian detours will be maintained for the continued construction of the Churchill pedestrian underpass which is expected to be completed in the Spring 2022.

At Kitchissippi Lookout, work on utilities relocation at Atlantis Avenue, drainage work, widening of the SJAM westbound lane, and intersection roadwork at the median turning lanes will take place until end of Summer 2021.

Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway (SJAM)

Installation of support of excavation will continue throughout 2021 for the Parkway Tunnel between Rochester Field and Cleary Avenue. The tunnel will run between Kìchì Sìbì and Lincoln Fields stations travelling underneath the SJAM and Byron Linear Park.

A temporary plant is producing slurry required for the future tunnel, which will support tunnel excavation. The plan is now operational and will continue to run into 2022. Several trucks per day bring materials to service the plant, accessing the site from the SJAM Parkway.

 

The slurry plant along the SJAM is now fully operational

 

Sherbourne Station

Sherbourne Station will be a new, single entrance station located within Byron Linear Park between Cleary Avenue and Sherbourne Road. A multi-use pathway will be accessible from the station via the new Cleary Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. Station construction will start June 2022.

Sherbourne Station
Number of Entrances	1
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	20
Passenger pick-up/drop-off	Yes

 

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Sherbourne Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Tunnel construction across Byron Linear Park will continue throughout 2021 and neighbouring residents can expect noise, vibrations, and detours at Cleary Avenue and Richmond Road to facilitate the construction. A new watermain installation at Cleary Avenue is expected to be complete by August 2021.

Byron Avenue

Utilities work along Byron Avenue between Woodroffe Avenue to Redwood Avenue is ongoing and is expected to be complete by June 2021. Following completion of the utilities, road paving will begin, and the barriers and fencing will be realigned. Crews began paving on Byron Avenue in April.

Byron Linear Park

The cut and cover tunnel in Byron Linear Park is being excavated to an approximate depth of 10.5 metres. Cut and cover construction operations are now underway and will continue until 2023. Rock breaking will be required on the future Byron Tunnel between Hartleigh Avenue and Sherbourne Road as this area has underground rock that must be excavated for the tunnel construction. Once excavation is complete, tunnel construction will begin.

 

Cut and cover operations are currently underway along Byron Linear Park

 

New Orchard Station

New Orchard Station will be a new station located within Byron Linear Park, east of New Orchard Avenue. All station facilities and system support spaces will be completely below grade except for the fare gate entrance and emergency exits. In addition, New Orchard will be constructed as an open station with the platforms located below the level of the existing grade. Station construction is expected to start in early 2022.

New Orchard Station
Number of Entrances	1
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	20

 

In March, crews excavated 10 metres, the full depth of the future New Orchard Station.

 

Woodroffe Avenue at Richmond Road

Since March, crews and equipment have been relocating a watermain under Woodroffe Avenue and will continue until late-May 2021. Relocation involves breaking rock for the utility trenches which is performed at night to minimize disruptions to traffic during the day. Once finished, construction of the temporary decking across Woodroffe will start, allowing for construction of the LRT tunnel below. A full closure, for approximately two weeks, at the end of May of Woodroffe Avenue is required to complete this work.

McEwen Avenue and Edgeworth Avenue

Excavation and relocation of a sanitary line is required along McEwen Avenue, resulting in the temporary closure and realigned sidewalk. This began in Spring 2021 and will continue until end of May. Following the Lawn Avenue Parkette utilities relocation work, crews and equipment will be working on Edgeworth Avenue for the relocation of underground watermain, storm water and sanitary line utilities which involves a road closure (local traffic will be permitted), rock breaking, removals, and operation of heavy machinery.

Lincoln Fields Station Area

Lincoln Fields Station is an existing Transitway station that will be reoriented and completely rebuilt to function as a new LRT station. The train platform will be located under Carling Avenue. There will be three entrances: a station entrance from Carling Avenue; an entrance with access from the west side of the guideway at-grade; and an entrance that will be provided at the bus loop. A signalized pedestrian crossing will also be provided to facilitate improved station access across Carling Avenue.

The existing bus terminal will be reconfigured to accommodate bus platforms and other bus facilities. Passenger pick-up and drop-off spaces currently located within the operating area of the bus terminal will be relocated with access from Carling Avenue and shared with buses.

Lincoln Fields Station
Number of Entrances	3
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	20
Public Art	Yes

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Lincoln Fields Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

As the watermain relocation along Carling Avenue nears completion, crews began storm sewer relocation in mid-April 2021. Support of excavation for the road-over-rail bridge structure along Carling Avenue is ongoing. In April, Lincoln Fields station construction began, making this the first station on the east-west extension to start station construction, a major milestone in the Stage 2 LRT Project. Cut and cover operations north of the Lincoln Fields station, have begun which involves pile drilling and excavation over the Spring 2021.

 

Crews preparing the Lincoln Fields site for station construction.

 

Connaught Park

The utilities relocation work on Connaught Avenue is ongoing, with the watermain work near Hanlon Avenue nearing completion. Construction of the new Woodroffe Pedestrian Bridge will has begun, and the current bridge structure will be removed after completion in 2022, ensuring continued connectivity across the park. Construction has resumed on the Lincoln Fields flyover with installation of supporting structures.

 

Crews work of supporting structures on the Lincoln Fields Flyover bridge.

 

The access for the OC Transpo depot was relocated to Connaught Avenue, which has allowed work to advance along the south side of Queensview Drive adjacent to Highway 417 up to the Pinecrest Road interchange, with utilities work and tunnel construction. Tunnel work has started on Connaught Avenue and into Connaught Park. Tunnel construction will consist of pile drilling, excavation, and support walls. As the tunnel work progresses, supporting structures are put in place with installation of formwork, followed by excavation. When the tunnel progress is sufficiently advanced, expected mid-May 2021, road work will occur at Connaught and Hanlon Avenues. This work will be to realign a portion of the road for traffic during construction through 2022 and will have ongoing lane reductions with a flagger to maintain connectivity in the area.

 

 

Iris Station Area

The Iris Station area will see ongoing activities related to drainage, grading, road work, support of excavation, retaining wall construction, traffic signals and streetlights throughout Spring 2021.

Crews are currently working on culvert construction, as part of the realignment of Pinecrest Creek, and drainage management, prior to the start of station construction in Spring 2022. Culvert work continues, including upcoming excavation for Pinecrest Creek, required to facilitate station and guideway construction. Following completion of the Pinecrest Creek realignment, construction of the new Iris Street bridge will begin in Fall 2021.

Iris Station
Number of Entrances	2
Bus Connections	Yes
Bike Parking Spaces	20

 

Aerial view of Iris Street facing south where ongoing construction activities are currently taking place

 

Iris Station is currently a bus stop located at the intersection of Iris Street and the existing Transitway. When completed, the LRT station platform will be located below the level of Iris Street. The station will include stairs and elevators for passengers to access the station from the sidewalk and bus stops located on Iris Street. Station entrance plazas on the east and west side of the guideway will be provided to safely accommodate both pedestrian and cycling traffic. Station construction will start in Winter 2022.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Iris Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown

 

Pinecrest Creek Stormwater Management Pond

Construction of the Stormwater Management Pond (SWMP), near Woodroffe Avenue and Baseline Road started in December 2020 and is progressing well. Crews have successfully excavated over 150,000 cubic metres of material, representing over half of the required excavation. This activity is expected to be complete in July 2021. Excavation will be followed by culvert construction, and inlet and outlet structures. The Pinecrest Creek SWMP construction is expected to complete by end of 2021, with final landscaping works continuing in 2022.

 

Aerial view facing east of the Pinecrest Creek Stormwater Management Pond

 

Algonquin Station

Algonquin Station is an existing Transitway station that was designed for light rail with an existing tunnel. This new station will serve as the last stop as part of the south-western link of the west extension, located between College Avenue and Navaho Drive, west of Algonquin College’s ACCE building and beneath the landscaped plaza within the previously constructed transit tunnel. The existing station will be replaced with improved pedestrian and cycling connections.

The station will have three entrances: south side of College Avenue; the north end of platform, within the existing plaza; and from the pedestrian bridge connecting to the Algonquin ACCE building.

Algonquin Station
Number of Entrances	3
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	4
Bike Parking Spaces	20
Public Art	Yes

The new pedestrian bridge will allow passengers safe and direct access to the ACCE building and to the existing pedestrian bridge crossing Woodroffe Avenue.

Excavation work continues at the future site of the Algonquin Station, and bus operator building adjacent to the Transitway. This work requires deep excavation and involves a reduction to the size of the current Park and Ride lot across from Algonquin College. Utilities work is required in the area, which coincided with the start of station construction at the end of April 2021.

 

Crews prepare the site for station construction at the future Algonquin LRT Station.

 

Queensview Station

Queensview Station is a new station located to the north of Highway 417. The station will have one entrance and will be integrated with a new pedestrian bridge over the 417, providing a significant new connection for communities north and south of the 417. There will be a plaza entry with access from the enhanced multi-use pathway and sidewalk system to allow access from the Queensview Drive and Queensway Terrace North communities. Station construction will start in Winter 2022.

Queensview Station
Number of Entrances	1
Fare Gates	4
Elevators	1
Bike Parking Spaces	20
Benches	3

Connaught cut and cover tunnel work has begun at Queensview Station moving into Connaught Park. Several drilling machines will be used for tunneling to an average depth of 10 metres and will operate concurrently in several locations. Utilities work is underway between the Pinecrest Road interchange and Leon’s. Preliminary utility relocation work has started for the Queensview pedestrian bridge over Highway 417.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Queensview Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

LRT Guideway Pinecrest to Moodie Stations

The LRT guideway will run along the existing Transitway, at-grade, parallel to the westbound lanes of the Highway 417. The LRT will run in a trench underneath Pinecrest Road and Moodie Drive and on a bridge over Holly Acres Road. As a result, some existing ramps have to be adjusted, or re-built to accommodate the construction of the new rail line.

Construction activities are scheduled so that the duration and extent of the impacts on all modes of transportation and the local community is minimized. Traffic will be shifted during construction to make space for the new structures (i.e., stations, bridges, roads, etc.) and the LRT guideway. This will be done in stages using temporary ramps, temporary closures, and traffic pattern shifts. Detours will be routed through approved arterial or major collector roads with posted signage and video message boards. Cycling and pedestrian routes will remain open during construction.

Pinecrest Station

At Pinecrest Station, a precast bridge is being built to allow for the LRT to travel underneath Pinecrest Road. The bridge will be moved into place during a rapid bridge replacement over a weekend, another major milestone for the O-Train West Extension. This will require a short duration closure of Pinecrest Road, likely to occur in late June 2021. The bridge wing walls are completed, deck shoring is ongoing, with deck pouring complete May 1, 2021. The south-west ramp closed on March 1, 2021 and will remain closed until approximately November 2021. In the Fall, the westbound off-ramp to Pinecrest Road will close for approximately 18 months to support the construction of the new trench. Signed detours and notices will be communicated prior to the closure.

Pinecrest Station
Number of Entrances	1
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	1
Bike Parking Spaces	20
Benches	5
Fare Gates	8

 

Work underway at Pinecrest Road Interchange

 

 

Crews complete a deck pour on the new Pinecrest prefabricated bridge being built next to the Pinecrest off-ramp. This bridge will be moved into place over a weekend in the summer.

 

Bayshore Station

Bayshore Station is an existing Transitway station that is currently located adjacent to Bayshore Shopping Centre and Highway 417.

The station will have a direct connection to Bayshore Shopping Centre by way of the existing overhead pedestrian bridge and improved pedestrian connections east and west via new and improved multi-use pathways and to the north with an improved sidewalk to Woodridge Crescent. Bicycle parking will be provided where the new sidewalk and multi-use pathway will intersect at the new station plaza adjacent to the existing BRT station entrance. Work around the Bayshore Station area for utility work and future station begun is underway with construction of a temporary bus loop starting in April 2021.

Bayshore Station
Number of Entrances	2
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	2
Bike Parking Spaces	40
Benches	3
Fare Gates	8

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Bayshore Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Holly Acres Road

At Holly Acres Road, a realignment of the road began in November 2020 and was completed in March 2021. This was required to create the necessary space for the LRT which will be carried over the road on a new bridge. Retaining walls, abutments, and pier caps were recently completed including the installation of girders. Upcoming work includes construction of the bridge deck, railings and concrete slabs, and installation of utilities.

 

Girder installation for the future rail-over-road bridge at Holly Acres. The girder installation was complete overnight on March 25, 2021.

 

Moodie Station

Moodie Station is an existing Transitway station that is currently located south-east of the intersection of Moodie Drive and Corkstown Road. The existing station will serve as the final stop on the Stage 2 O-Train West extension.

Moodie Station
Number of Entrances	2
Bus Connections	Yes
Elevators	2
Escalators	2
Fare Gates	4
Bike Parking Spaces	20
Benches	4

The station platform will be located between Corkstown Road and the eastbound off-ramp of Highway 417, east of Moodie Drive. The station will facilitate the direct and rapid movement of passengers between local buses, trains, and adjacent development.

Passenger pick-up and drop-off space will be located on the realigned and reconfigured Corkstown Road. Multi-use pathways and a sidewalk will direct customers to the plaza for entrance to the station and where bicycle parking will be provided.

The track for the LRT will be constructed across Moodie Drive on the north side of Highway 417. Three new structures are in the process of being built for the road bridges.

A realignment of Moodie Drive began in November 2020 and this work will continue in phases through December 2021. Construction of the Moodie Drive structure will begin in Summer 2021 through Winter 2021. Ramp closures and adjustments are in place to make room for the future LRT trench.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Moodie Station design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

Light Maintenance and Storage Facility (LMSF)

The LMSF will provide additional vehicle storage and perform light maintenance activities.

Construction of the LMSF began recently while utilities work, culvert and concrete pad construction, and building excavation are ongoing. Support structures and installation of retaining walls began in April 2021.

 

This image is an artistic representation of the Moodie LMSF design. The final product may not be exactly as shown.

 

 

LMSF retaining wall and block wall construction is ongoing

 

Community Impacts

Residents can expect the following planned mobility impacts during construction. All mobility impacts will be communicated to residents prior to construction starting.

Location		Timeline		Traffic & Mobility Impacts
Richmond Road (Cleary Avenue to McEwan Avenue)		Spring 2020 to Fall 2023		Multiple off-peak lane closure and Intersection reconfigurations
Carling Avenue (Lincoln Fields)		Summer 2020 to 2022		Traffic impacts that will reduce Carling westbound to two lanes for sewer work and bridge construction. Lane shifting is expected at/near the intersection.
Iris Street at Transitway		Spring 2020 to 2022		Multiple lane shifts and Intersection re-configurations
Richmond Road (Woodroffe Ave)		May to June 2022		13-day closure of Woodroffe Ave. at Richmond Road for decking works
Highway 417 (Pinecrest Road to Moodie Drive)		Fall 2020 to Fall 2021		Lane closures expected during off peak periods.
Highway 417 and Pinecrest Interchange		Spring 2021 to Summer 2023		Various ramp closures expected.
Highway 417 and Moodie Interchange		Spring to Winter 2021		Westbound on-ramp from northbound Moodie Drive closure expected.
Richmond Road (WB from New Orchard to McEwen)		Fall 2021 – Fall 2022		WB Richmond Detoured to Ambleside
Scott Street (Churchill to Tunney’s Pasture)		Summer 2021 to Fall 2022		Multiple lane closures expected

Most work is scheduled to occur from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. There will be requirements for overnight work and some weekend work.

Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected. Regular street sweeping and cleaning will be scheduled to mitigate the dust and dirt coming from construction work.

Site lighting for overnight work is required. Please note that all night work will have supplementary notices delivered to affected residents.

All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place.

Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.

Stay Informed!

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For any other questions, please contact Stage2@ottawa.ca(link sends e-mail).

https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/major-projects/stage-2-light-rail-transit-project/project-updates#o-train-west-extension-spring-2021-update

Looks like many of the stations won't have the vertical transportation (elevator) redundancy built into Stage 1. Many stations have only 1 elevator (central platform?) or 2 (side platforms). I had thought the City was committed to accessibility. Given how often the current elevators have needed maintenance I can see how some stations (Westboro for e.g. with 1 elevator) could be inaccessible to those in wheelchairs, on crutches and so forth . . .

There are a lot of inconsistencies between the City's messaging, the updates and the renderings. If we end up with any single elevator, I'll consider that a failure on the City's part.

The only stations where I could see a justification would be Sherbourne and New Orchard. Both have very limited space for vertical circulation in their current configuration. That said, considering the significant value-engineering poured into that section (moving the tunnel under the park, moving Sherbourne from underground north of Richmond to open air in the park), they could have added second accessible entrances to both. 

Notice of Construction June 2021 As part of the Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, crews and equipment will be undertaking the preparatory work necessary before station and guideway construction between Tunney’s Pasture and Kìchì Sìbì Stations. Over the next six months, a series of activities will take place on the Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) Parkway, around Dominion, Workman and Roosevelt Avenues, and on Scott St. west of Smirle Ave. This will include road widening on Scott St. and at the SJAM Parkway as part of the construction of the Scott St. Transitway Detour. What Throughout the areas identified above, there will be the setup of a work zone with fencing, heavy equipment, trailers, and machinery. The Roosevelt pedestrian bridge will be removed and dismantled to allow for the construction of a bus-only bridge required for the Scott St. Transitway detour. The removal of the pedestrian bridge will be followed by the construction of bridge abutments, caisson drilling, and crane installation on Workman Ave at the Transitway.    Later this summer, temporary noise barriers will be installed on Workman Ave. and at two sections on the south side of Scott St. east of Lanark Ave and east of Island Park Dr..  Construction of the bus-only bridge structure will begin in the fall.  There will also be utilities and road work in the SJAM, Dominion Ave. and Churchill Ave. areas. Road widening work on the SJAM Parkway at the Transitway and on Scott St. between Churchill and Smirle Avenues will begin in May 2021. This road widening is to accommodate the Scott St. Transitway detour which will begin in the spring of 2022.    When Starting as early as June 25, 2021 through December 2021 for bridge and detour work; followed by ongoing station and guideway construction until 2023.   Hours Regular work hours are Monday to Saturday between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm.  Periodic night work after 11:00 pm will be required. A Noise By-law Exemption permit is required to perform night work.  Why Building of the Scott St. Transitway detour prior to construction of Kìchì Sìbì and Westboro Stations and the LRT guideway. Where Kìchì Sìbì Station area and along Scott St. between Churchill and Smirle Avenues.    Anticipated Impacts   Construction Impacts Residents nearby can expect to hear noise and vibration from crews, equipment, and heavy machinery. Noise and vibration levels are monitored and reported to the City. Driveway access will be temporarily restricted on Workman Ave. during the bridge replacement operations in fall 2021. Residents will be notified of road closure and impact details in advance.   Mobility Impacts Construction fencing and signage will be in place around all work areas.  There will be temporary lane reductions and traffic delays throughout the area for local traffic during certain operations.   Following the removal of the Roosevelt pedestrian bridge, pedestrian and cyclist detours will be in place for the duration of station and guideway construction using SJAM, Dominion, Workman and Churchill Avenues. A pathway detour will be in place along the Transitway south side, from Winston Ave connecting with Churchill Ave.   In areas of road work on Scott St., pedestrian and cycling facilities will be maintained.   Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.   Pedestrians and cyclists should adhere to all posted signage and use extra caution when travelling through construction areas, as patterns will change from time to time.   The safety of the public and workers is paramount, and we thank you for your patience during construction.   For other accommodations, or any questions, please contact: Jessica Maxwell Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program, City of Ottawa Jessica.Maxwell@ottawa.ca  www.ottawa.ca/stage2

O-Train East Extension Major Construction Activities and Community Impacts   July - September, 2021 OVERVIEW The O-Train East extension will see the Light Rail Transit (LRT) continue from Blair Station to Trim Road, adding 12 kilometres of rail; 5 new stations to the O-Train network at Montreal Road, Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Orléans Boulevard (Convent Glen Station), Place d’Orléans, and Trim Road; 4 new bridges; 6 bridges rehabilitated; 3 pedestrian bridges; and 3 major culverts.   The LRT will travel predominantly within the median of Ottawa Route (OR) 174. We are mid-way through 2021 and heavy construction continues to take place throughout the east alignment as crews build rail, pedestrian and road bridges, new highway lanes, the rail guideway (dedicated rail line) and begin station construction.   While it is exciting to see progress on the LRT project, some of these activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including intermittent night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area. Construction team members review all upcoming work Monday mornings and provide an impact notice for overnight work.  By emailing Stage2@ottawa.ca we can share the update with you for awareness.   This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities along the O-Train East LRT project alignment, as well as the expected community impacts including hours of work, noise from crews and equipment, pedestrian, and vehicle mobility, etc. MAJOR WORKS   To see the latest renderings of the LRT stations please visit: https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/major-projects/stage-2-light-rail-transit-project/o-train-east-extension   Blair Station to Montreal Road Interchange Work continues to progress on the 174 Median Rail Bridge, 800 metres east of the OR174 Blair Road Interchange. With girders and decking installed and concrete poured, final details such as the installation of parapets and other works are left remaining. The bridge will be completed in mid-September 2021, with guideway and track work to follow thereafter.  Time lapse video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL9jERdgS-I Currently, eastbound, and westbound traffic are directed to the south side of the existing median allowing for the continued construction of the 174 Median Rail bridge. The construction of new westbound lanes on the north side will start in Summer 2021 and will be completed by the end of September 2021. Pictured above: 174 Median Rail Bridge, June 2021. Montréal Station Crews and equipment continue to build a new bridge within the median of the OR174 and the Montreal Road Interchange for the LRT guideway and tracks.   To facilitate this work, lane closures continue to be in place until mid-July 2021. Northbound lanes under the OR174 overpass continue to be closed and southbound lanes have been repurposed to accommodate bi-directional traffic. As a result, vehicular lanes have been reduced to one lane in each direction. Pedestrians and cycling movements continue to be maintained via the newly improved multi-use pathway (MUP) on the south side of Montreal Road. After mid-July 2021, northbound lanes will continue to be closed, however, lane adjustments will be made to carry normal traffic flow in both directions. Pictured above: Crews and equipment work on the bridges in the median of the OR174 at Montréal Station. Bridge construction and station excavation will continue until mid-September 2021. Construction activities will include the installation of girders, deck panels, parapets, and other works. Once the bridge is completed, the start of the station construction will begin in September 2021.   The first laying of rail tracks will happen at the beginning of September 2021, east of the future Montréal LRT Station.     Jeanne d’Arc Station Significant road and ramp work were completed this past Spring over several weekends. In addition, excavation in the median of OR174 took place to facilitate the construction start of the future Jeanne d’Arc LRT Station which also started in the Spring.   Residents over the summer months can expect that station construction will continue in the median.   Westbound OR174 widening between Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway and Green’s Creek will start in July 2021 with lane closures expected to be required in mid-August.   Work on a pedestrian bridge at Green’s Creek started in the Spring and is targeted to be completed in the Winter 2022.   In addition, work on the guideway between Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway to Orléans Boulevard Overpass will continue over the Summer months and will be completed in September 2021 and ready for the installation of ties and tracks. Pictured above: Looking east toward Jeanne d’Arc Station in the median of OR174.   Convent Glen Station Over the Spring, major utilities and drainage work took place on both the north and south sides around Orléans Boulevard. This was required to facilitate upcoming roadwork.   Roadwork to facilitate the realignment of the OR174 eastbound and westbound started this past June and will continue until the end of August 2021. Motorists can expect lane closures in both directions of OR174 throughout the summer.  Any traffic impacts will be communicated in advance. Guideway (median) work in the form of removal and excavation of asphalt and concrete will begin in September 2021.   Place d’Orléans Station Significant road and ramp work were completed this past Spring over several weekends.   Rock breaking and excavation in the OR174 median, required for the guideway and the future Place d’Orléans LRT Station, will continue until the end of July 2021. Once completed, the station construction will begin.   To construct a noise wall west of the OC Transpo Orléans Park & Ride crews and equipment will begin clearing the area in early July 2021. Work will include site mobilization, tree and vegetation removal. Multiple trees will be removed as part of this construction work. In addition, in early July 2021, the closure of the MUP between Billberry Creek and the Park & Ride will take place. Fencing will be in place to create a safe work zone, away from pedestrians and cyclists. A MUP detour along Billberry Drive and Joe Jamieson Park will be accessible during the closure of the existing MUP with detour signage visible. Pictured above: Looking west at road realignment of the OR174 at Champlain Street.   Trim Station Over the Spring, major utilities and drainage work took place at the OC Transpo Trim Park & Ride and around the site of the future Trim LRT Station. The work is ongoing.  In addition, the construction of a new eastbound off-ramp, and the new Trim Road North/South realignment began in the Spring with topsoil removal, embankment, and granular placement. Most of the work is expected to be completed by mid-August 2021.The 174 eastbound realignment and the excavation of the new Station will start this fall.   Eastbound and westbound OR174 realignment which began in June 2021 will continue until the end of September 2021. The work is required for the guideway and the future Trim LRT Station. Once space has been created, rock breaking and excavation in the OR174 median will begin in September 2021 for the guideway.   Motorists can expect major weekend traffic impacts during the Summer months.  Please visit Ottawa.ca/Stage2 for the most up-to-date information: June 26-27, 2021: full eastbound and westbound OR174 lane closures at Taylor Creek July 24-25, 2021: full westbound closure and lane shifts for the new northwest on-ramp acceleration lane with temporary tie on to the existing OR174 westbound lane at Montreal Interchange August 7-8, 2021:  eastbound and westbound OR174 lane closures at Trim Road September 11-12, 2021: eastbound and westbound OR174 lane closures at Tenth Line Road   Noise Walls The construction of four (4) noise walls along the north side corridor of OR174 between Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and Tenth Line Road began in May 2021.  This work will continue through the Fall, 2021 at the following locations:   OR174 between Orléans Boulevard and Bilberry Creek OR174 west of Tenth Line Road OR174 between Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and Orléans Boulevard OR174 between Bilberry Creek and the Oc Transpo Orléans Park & Ride Pictured above: Installation of noise walls is underway, June 2021. COMMUNITY IMPACTS Typically, most work is scheduled to occur from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. However, throughout the notice period, there will be requirements for overnight work across the entire corridor, and some intermittent 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 to meet the schedule on this large and complex project.   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.   Site lighting for overnight work will be required.    During roadworks, such as the realignment of the OR174 to make space for the guideway (median), commuters can expect lane reductions and lane closures. Any impacts will be communicated to the public through the City’s electronic newsletter.  Sign up to receive updates at Ottawa.ca/Stage2Connect.   All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place. Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.   For residents whose property borders the affected construction zone, 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.   The safety of the public and the workers is paramount, and we thank you for your patience during construction.   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 This notice provides an overview of major activities expected to occur until September 2021. Specific timing of activities, including road closures or detours, overnight activities, or other major works, will be communicated in advance via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter. Please sign up to ensure you receive the latest updates.   To receive these newsletter updates please sign up at Ottawa.ca/Stage2Connect.   For any other questions, please contact Stage2@ottawa.ca.   For other accommodations, please contact: Dianna Ashworth Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program City of Ottawa www.ottawa.ca/stage2