Montreal Road Revitalization

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Pedestrian access to local businesses and private properties is being maintained throughout construction, and Montreal Road businesses remain open. 

Project limits

The project limits for Montreal Road are North River Road to St. Laurent Boulevard for a total distance of 2 kilometres. In addition to the Montreal Road corridor, the project includes reconstruction of North River Road from Montreal Road to the North River Road cul-de-sac for a total distance of 560 metres length.

Key plan [ PDF - 377 KB ]

Landscape roll plan [ PDF - 6 MB ]

Project description

The City of Ottawa has completed the 18-month long detail design phase of the Montreal Road corridor and construction began in June 2019.

The ultimate vision for Montreal Road is to construct a vibrant and welcoming main street with a well-balanced transportation network that will allow residents and businesses to thrive. To achieve this vision, some of the following aboveground and underground improvements are proposed:

• Construct a three-lane cross section between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard that includes two eastbound lanes, one westbound lane and cycling tracks/lanes in both directions.
• Bury overhead Hydro lines between North River Road and L’Eglise Street.
• Implement streetscaping features along Montreal Road, including but not limited to new street furniture, streetlights, trees, concrete sidewalks and paver stones.
• Review and improve bus stop and bus shelter locations.
• Replace the existing watermain between North River Road and St. Laurent Boulevard.
• Replace sanitary and storm sewers along certain sections of Montreal Road.
• Inclusion of traffic calming measures and pedestrian/cycling features on North River Road.

As part of the Montreal Road project, the 560 metre long section of North River Road (north of Montreal Road) is planned for reconstruction. The proposed works include replacement of the watermain, sanitary sewers and road drainage modifications.

Project timing

Project construction began in June 2019 with underground utility work. A general summary of the construction timelines and project staging are as follows:

• 2019 - Construction of underground Hydro Ottawa conduits and other utility work on Montreal Road between North River Road and de L’Église Street.
• 2020 - Continued utility work as well as watermain and sewer construction on Montreal Road and North River Road (Montreal Road to north cul-de-sac). Completed road and underground work along Montreal Road between North River Road and the Vanier Parkway.
• 2021 – First Year of eastbound Montreal Road detour. Continued underground watermain, sewer and surface works (sidewalk, cycle track and road) on Montreal Road between the Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard. 
• 2022 – Second year of eastbound Montreal Road detour. Complete all underground sewer and majority of surface works (sidewalk, cycle track and road) between the Vanier Parkway and St-Laurent Boulevard. 
• 2023 – Last year of construction. Complete all remaining works including new cycle track section from North River Road to Montgomery Street, commissioning of cycle track between Begin Street and St-Laurent, final road paving and landscaping.

Project budget

The City is making a significant investment to renew Montreal Road and North River Road (estimated at $64 million) with funding authority identified as part of the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 capital budgets.

Safety

The City of Ottawa is committed to safety in and around project sites. The project team continues to work closely with the industry and to comply with recommendations provided by municipal, provincial and federal health officials, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Contact information

For further information, please contact the project team or alternatively, the City Project Manager:

City Project Manager
Andrew Arseneault, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction – Municipal
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel: 613-315-4625

The final season of construction along Montreal Road from North River Road to St-Laurent Boulevard is ongoing. This work represents the final stages of construction including completion of landscaping, cycle tracks, pavement markings, signage, and paving of the road surface.   

During road paving operations, some night work will be required to limit daytime disruptions and impacts to transit. Night work is undertaken only when necessary and will be limited as much as possible. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the night work, please contact the City Project Manager listed below.  

What: Road paving work on Montreal Road at night from east of Marier Avenue to St-Laurent Boulevard.

Why: Some road paving operations along Montreal Road east of Marier Avenue to St-Laurent Boulevard must be completed at night to limit daytime disruptions and impacts to traffic including transit services. 

When: The night work is expected for several days between July 4 and July 14, 2023. 

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the Contractor, R.W. Tomlinson Limited, to complete the work.

Contact information

For any emergency outside normal working hours on weekdays and weekends, please call the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1. For further information about this project, email the project team.

City of Ottawa Project Manager
Andrew Arseneault, P.Eng.
City of Ottawa
Tel.: 613-314-4625

Contract Administrator
Adam Smith, P. Eng. 
Robinson Consultants Inc.
Tel.: 613-592-6060, ext. 131

City On-Site Representative
Paul Jakowec, C.Tech., rcca, CIP
Robinson Consultants Inc. 
Tel.: 613-592-6060, ext. 158

Contractor Representative
Michael Adamovits, Project Manager
R.W. Tomlinson Limited
Tel.: 613-822-1867

The final year of construction along Montreal Road will be resuming in May 2023.  Compared to last year, this year’s work will be shorter in duration and have significantly less impacts to residents and business owners.

Two-way traffic will be maintained along Montreal Road at all times, and unlike previous years, an eastbound Montreal Road detour is not required. This year’s work will focus on final road paving, completion of landscaping (trees, paver stones, street furniture) and commissioning of the entire cycle track between the Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard.

Some of the main aspects of the work that will be completed by late summer include:

• Final asphalt lift from Marier Avenue to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Commissioning of the cycle track from Begin Street to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Completion of all remaining landscaping, street furniture, pavement marking and signage
• Construction of the southside Montreal Road cycle track from North River Road to Montgomery Street
• Modifications at the Montreal Road/North River Road intersection
• Construction of the multi-use pathway (MUP) providing a cycling connection from Mark Avenue to the Vanier Parkway
• Implementation of traffic calming features along the north leg of North River Road.
• Addressing deficiencies such as cracked sidewalk panels and inanimate trees, shrubs, and sod
• Completion of plaza features at Dupuis Street, Emond Street and Bradley Avenue
• Installation of the Vanier Parkway electronic community gateway sign (to be completed in late April and commissioned in May)

Photo 1 : Artist rendering of the Vanier community gateway sign

Electronic Vanier community gateway sign

The new electronic community sign being installed will be a hub of information for the local community. Installed in partnership between the Vanier Community Services Centre and the City of Ottawa, the sign will be used to promote local programming and events.

Traffic impacts

Night Work

During road paving operations, some night work will be required to limit daytime disruptions and impacts to transit. Night work is undertaken only when necessary and will be limited as much as possible. The road paving work will take place east of Marier Avenue to St. Laurent Boulevard in several stages in the month of May and June 2023.

McArthur Avenue and Donald Street resurfacing

Asphalt resurfacing of Donald Street (Vera Street to Alesther Street) is tentatively scheduled to start in June 2023 and McArthur Avenue (Lafontaine Avenue to St. Laurent Boulevard) in August 2023.

Reinstatement of both the McArthur Avenue/Vanier Parkway and McArthur Avenue/St. Laurent Boulevard intersections to the pre 2021 & 2022 Montreal Road detour configuration will be completed this summer.

The resurfacing work is being coordinated with Montreal Road to minimize impacts to traffic and transit.

Public information sessions

Public information session display boards and comments summary

• Public information session #2 (May 13, 2019)
• Public information session #1 (April 24, 2018)
• Presentation to Montreal Road BIA (November 19, 2019) [ 5.14 MB ]

Some examples of public engagement for the project have included:

• Public information sessions – first public information session was held in April 2018. The second public information session was held on May 13, 2019.
• Meetings with the Vanier Community Association and Quartier Vanier BIA to provide project updates, receive feedback and answer questions.
• Working group meetings with members from the Vanier Community Association and Quartier Vanier BIA with the purpose of obtaining input on specific issues involving significant design decisions.
• Project newsletter (monthly to date, may be more frequent as construction ramps up).
• Regular communication with individual business owners and residents affected by the proposed improvements.