We understand it’s hard to get excited about construction season because what often comes with it are dust, detours, and delays. But to build a better Ottawa for all residents to enjoy, today and in the future, investments in our city’s infrastructure are crucial.
It’s been about a month since the official start of construction season in Ottawa and progress is already being made at projects across our communities. The City owns and maintains almost $70 billion in infrastructure, and in 2023, Ottawa City Council will invest over $800 million in order to continue to provide vital services to residents, businesses and visitors.
Here's a look at how some of this investment will be spent this year:
There are hundreds of active infrastructure projects across the city, all at various stages of implementation. There are far too many to list here, so we’ve highlighted below just a few that are nearing the finish line and will be ready for residents to enjoy soon. Keep reading, as one of these projects could be in a neighbourhood near you!
Road rehabilitation and integrated road, water, and sewer projects
The City continues to invest in improving our roads, and that’s not just fixing potholes. Many projects will see the replacement of aging sewers and watermains and allow for combined sewer separation which will greatly reduce the potential for combined sewer overflows, protect our waterways and reduce the risk of basement flooding.
Underground sewers and watermain rehabilitation are integrated with road rehabilitation, wider sidewalks when possible and the addition of cycling lanes to facilitate the movement of all users – cyclist, pedestrians and motorist – while providing the necessary infrastructure to support future growth.
An example of growth is the Strandherd Drive widening. Approximately 3.3 kilometres in length, the project will provide capacity for existing and future traffic volumes during peak periods and facilitate the movement of cyclists and pedestrians through this busy corridor of Barrhaven. This project is in its final year of construction, with all finishing work to be completed this fall.
There’s also the Montreal Road revitalization which has reconstructed Montreal Road from Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard, and a section of North River Road from Montreal Road to the North River Road cul-de-sac. This vibrant and welcoming main street now has a well-balanced transportation network that will allow residents and businesses to thrive. This project will soon be completed with final landscaping, cycle tracks, pavement markings and signage.
Sidewalks and pathways
The City is committed to effective and safe mobility for all users, which includes improvements to our sidewalks and pathways.
The Rideau River Bridge Crossing at Carleton University will open to residents later this year. This new active transportation bridge over the Rideau River, south of the O-Train Trillium line bridge, provides a cycling and walking connection from the NCC’s Rideau River Eastern Pathway to the Carleton University Campus and pathways in the vicinity of Hartwell Locks. When construction is complete, Stage 2 LRT alone will deliver approximately 25 kilometres of new active transportation facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Mackenzie Avenue to Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway cycle link upgrade will separate cyclists from mixed traffic, greatly improving the level of comfort and safety for all users. The design will integrate cycling connections and include safety measures such as separated signal phasing and protected intersection crossings. Once completed later this fall, it will connect to the already completed East-West Bikeway on Laurier Avenue, filling a critical missing link for cyclists in the core area.
Structures and bridges
One of the most highly anticipated projects this year is the Chief William Commanda Bridge multi-use pathway and rehabilitation project. This new multi-use pathway will improve active transportation between Ottawa and Gatineau and will serve as an interprovincial link for commuters, recreational users, and visitors. The remainder of the rehabilitation of the substructure of the bridge will be completed later this year, with final cleanup work to be completed by summer 2024.
Stage 2 LRT (O-Train construction)
Work is well underway on Stage 2 LRT construction, and it remains the largest infrastructure project currently in progress, expanding transit mobility further east, west, and south to our suburban communities and the Macdonald-Cartier Airport.
The O-Train South Extension, which includes lines 2 and 4, will run 19 kilometres through 11 stations, both new and existing, from Bayview Station to Limebank Road and will include 12 kilometres of new rail. An additional four-kilometre Airport Link will run from South Keys to the Ottawa International Airport.
Later this year, construction on lines 2 and 4 will wrap up. Work on stations, rail and systems will be completed, testing and commissioning of the lines will continue, and trial running will begin just prior to the public opening.
Stay in the know
We recognize the impacts of construction on the day-to-day activities of our residents and strive to minimize disruption while completing projects efficiently and communicating proactively. To stay informed, residents can:
- Visit the City’s construction page to find project webpages
- Sign up for project newsletters
- Visit the capital construction forecast map to see current and forecasted construction projects
- Visit the traffic impacts webpage for up-to-date information about upcoming major traffic impacts in Ottawa
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.