Bank Street Canal Bridge Rehabilitation

Project description

The Bank Street Bridge is located over the Rideau Canal, near Lansdowne Park/TD Place. The bridge was constructed in 1912 and the most recent major rehabilitation was carried out in 1993.

In the summer/fall of 2020, and spring of 2021, the bridge underwent a structural rehabilitation which focused on concrete repairs to the underside of the bridge arches. The 2020/2021 rehabilitation work also included repairs to the top of the bridge, however it was decided during construction that the City would explore options to add cycling facilities as well. The new cycling facilities are being constructed in conjunction with the remaining rehabilitation work on the top side of the bridge.

Following public consultation and review of community feedback, it was decided to implement a separated cycling facility as part of the bridge design, instead of a multi-use pathway. The addition of separated cycling facilities and railings to the bridge will improve the safety of all users and maintain the separated space for pedestrians. The cycling facilities are being facilitated by reducing the number of traffic lanes on the bridge to one (1) southbound lane and two (2) northbound lanes. The City has completed planning, public and stakeholder consultations and detailed design for the project and construction is scheduled to start in spring 2022.

The work will include:

• concrete repairs for sidewalks and abutment walls,
• resurfacing of Bank Street over the canal bridge,
• bridge expansion joint repairs, and
• addition of cycling facilities on the bridge.

Figure 1 below shows the new lane configuration for the Bank Street Bridge which includes 1.5 meter wide raised cycle tracks on both sides of the bridge.

Figure 1: Bank Street Canal Bridge New Configuration [ 119.71 KB ]

Traffic management during construction

Due to the restricted width of the bridge, the following provisions are required during construction:

• Traffic will be reduced to one (1) lane in each direction.
• Cyclists will share the road with vehicles, in a single file.
• One sidewalk will remain open at all times. (Two pedestrian facilities will be made available during major events at Lansdowne Park.)

Project timing

Construction notice: spring 2022
Construction start: spring 2022
Construction completion: fall/winter 2022

Project budget

Approved project funds to date are $2,273,000.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. The City makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require a disability-related accommodation, please contact the project team listed below. Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

COVID-19

The City of Ottawa, in its commitment to protecting people and the community, 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, Training and Skills Development.

For any emergency outside normal working hours on weekdays and weekends, call the City at 3-1-1.
Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact:

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

Contract Administrator
Rob McLaren
McIntosh Perry
115 Walgreen Road, R.R.3., Carp, ON K0A 1L0
Tel: 613-778-8671

Construction Inspector
Rabih Darwiche
McIntosh Perry
Tel: 613-227-2330

Contractor Representative
Luc Choquette, Project Manager
Coco Paving Inc.
Tel: 613-962-3461, ext. 5511

Beginning in June 2022, the City of Ottawa will begin construction on the Bank Street Canal Bridge Cycling Lanes Project. This work will include bridge rehabilitation work and the addition of cycling facilities. This work is being conducted to improve the aging infrastructure and to improve the safety for all road users.

Following public consultation and review of community feedback, it was decided to implement a separated cycling facility as part of the bridge design, instead of a multi-use pathway. The addition of separated cycling facilities and railings to the bridge will improve the safety of all users and maintain the separated space for pedestrians.

What: The proposed work consists of concrete repairs for sidewalks and abutment walls, resurfacing of Bank Street over the canal bridge, bridge expansion joint repairs, and addition of cycling facilities on the bridge.

Why: This work is being conducted to improve the aging infrastructure and to improve the safety for all road users.

When: This work is scheduled to be completed in 2022. Construction is planned to begin in early June 2022 and be completed in December 2022.

Where: The proposed work will occur on Bank Street from Exhibition Way to Aylmer Avenue.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the Contractor, Coco Paving Inc., to complete the work.

Safety

During construction, it is our priority to ensure the safety of the public. We need your co-operation to make it safer for everyone, please stay clear of all construction equipment and open excavations. If applicable, please tell your children about the dangers of playing near a construction area.

Traffic management

In order to accommodate the proposed construction on Bank Street the road will be reduced to one lane in each direction. One sidewalk will remain open at all times with an additional pedestrian facility added for major events. Cyclists must share the road with vehicles. Access to private properties will be maintained throughout the construction period.

Noise / Night work

You may notice noise during the execution of this project. Whenever possible noise generating operations will be undertaken during normal weekday work hours, 7 am to 10 pm. The City of Ottawa Noise By-law (2017-255) allows construction activity to occur weekdays between 7 am and 10 pm. On Saturdays, work is permitted between 7 am and 10 pm, while Sundays, statutory and public holidays work is permitted between 9 am and 10 pm.

Night work may be required to complete some construction activities throughout the course of works. All night work will follow the City of Ottawa Noise By-law (2017-255) requirements.

Construction disruptions

The Contractor will take every precaution to minimize interruptions to the everyday life of your family and/or operation of your business, but, as you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the course of the work, such as traffic delays, noise and dust. You may also feel vibrations due to heavy equipment operations. Vibrations from construction activities are quite common and rarely cause any problems. We would like to thank you for your patience and co-operation.

The City of Ottawa continues to take precautionary steps to protect members of the public. As an alternative to hosting in-person public information sessions, information is being posted to Ottawa.ca. The City remains committed to keeping the public informed of projects occurring in your neighbourhood.

The City of Ottawa invites you to review and provide comments on the Bank Street Canal Bridge Rehabilitation and Cycle Tracks construction project between April 8 and 22, 2021.

Project Display Boards [ 2.46 MB ]

A virtual public information session will be held on Thursday, April 8, 2021 between 6 pm and 8 pm.

What: The City is designing improved active transportation (i.e., cycling and pedestrian) facilities on the Bank Street bridge over the Rideau Canal. In September 2020, City Council members endorsed a concept design for the bridge crossing that included a reduction of vehicle lanes over the bridge from the existing four lanes to three lanes in order to accommodate active transportation facilities. The new design will include two northbound vehicle lanes and one southbound vehicle lane over the bridge. In addition to active transportation facilities, the proposed rehabilitation also consists of concrete repairs to the existing sidewalks over the bridge, replacement of bridge expansion joints, the addition of a metal hand railing on top of the existing bridge barrier and asphalt resurfacing on the bridge.

Why: To enhance life span of the bridge, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and bridge aesthetics.

Where: The project includes the rehabilitation of the Bank Street Canal bridge structure spanning over the Rideau Canal and implementation of active transportation facilities between Exhibition Way and Echo Drive.

When: The current project schedule is as follows:

• Design completion: spring 2021
• Construction start: summer 2021
• Final completion: fall 2021

Who: Design consulting firm, WSP, has been retained by the City to develop a design for the above stated work scope for the Bank Street Canal Bridge.

For further information about this project and/or to submit comments on the project, please contact the City project manager.

Construction notice (May 2021)

Starting in late May 2021, the City of Ottawa will resume construction work on the Bank Street bridge over Rideau Canal. Rehabilitation of the Bank Street Canal Bridge started in July 2020. Repair work for arches 1, 2, and 5 were completed in 2020 and existing lighting over the bridge was upgraded.

Repair work for arches 4, and 6 started last fall and the majority of the repairs were completed. However, some concrete works in arches 4 and 6 had to be postponed to spring/summer 2021 due to winter weather conditions.

What: The bridge rehabilitation will involve concrete repairs to the Bank Street Canal Bridge. The works consist of concrete repairs to the bridge piers and arch soffits under the bridge in arches 4 and 6 (over the NCC pathway on the north side of the Canal, and over the Queen Elizabeth Drive).

Why: The work is required to extend the lifespan of the bridge.

When: Construction is expected to commence in late May 2021 and be completed in August 2021.

Where: The Bank Street Bridge over Rideau Canal – located on Bank Street, between Echo Drive and Wilton Crescent.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Louis W. Bray Construction Limited to complete the work.

Traffic Management

In order to accommodate the proposed construction in Arch 4, Queen Elizabeth Drive will be reduced to one lane with alternating traffic during the proposed works on the arch soffit under the bridge. Pedestrian and cyclist access across and under the bridge will be maintained via detours at all times throughout the construction. Signage will be installed to guide pedestrians through the construction zone.

Property Damage Caused by Construction Activities

As part of this contract, the Contractor is assuming full responsibility for the construction work until it is entirely complete as well as any damages to private property resulting from these construction activities. In the event of such occurrences, all claims for damages should be immediately reported both verbally and in writing to the Contractor’s Representative and to the Contract Administrator.

This will ensure prompt notification of appropriate authorities to complete the claim investigations.

Construction Disruptions

The Contractor will take every precaution to minimize interruptions to the everyday life of your family and/or operation of your business, but, as you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the course of the work, such as traffic delays, noise, and odour. We would like to thank you for your patience and co-operation. For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).

Construction notice (July 2020)

At the end of July, the City of Ottawa will start construction work on the Bank Street bridge over Rideau Canal.

What: The bridge rehabilitation will involve concrete repairs to the Bank Street Canal Bridge. The works consist of concrete repairs to the bridge piers and arch soffits under the bridge. Options are currently being evaluated for the implementation of a multi-modal transportation system including safer cycling lanes over the bridge.

In addition to the above, the existing lighting over the bridge will also be upgraded.

Why: The work is required to extend the lifespan of the bridge.

When: Construction is expected to commence at the end of July 2020 and be completed by the end of the year.

Where: The Bank Street Bridge over Rideau Canal – located on Bank Street, between Echo Drive and Wilton Crescent.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Louis W. Bray Construction Limited to complete the work.

Traffic Management

In order to accommodate the proposed construction over the bridge, Bank Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction over the bridge during the construction works. Queen Elizabeth Drive and Colonel By Drive will be reduced to one lane with alternating traffic during the proposed works on arch soffits under the bridge. Pedestrian and cyclist access across and under the bridge will be maintained via detours at all times throughout the construction.

Construction Disruptions

The Contractor will take every precaution to minimize interruptions to the everyday life of your family and/or operation of your business, but, as you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the course of the work, such as traffic delays, noise, and odour. We would like to thank you for your patience and co-operation.

Property Damage Caused by Construction Activities

As part of this contract, the Contractor is assuming full responsibility for the construction work until it is entirely complete as well as any damages to private property resulting from these construction activities. In the event of such occurrences, all claims for damages should be immediately reported both verbally and in writing to the Contractor’s Representative and to the Contract Administrator. This will ensure prompt notification of appropriate authorities to complete the claim investigations.

COVID-19 is an unprecedented situation and the City of Ottawa is committed to protecting our employees and our community. The City of Ottawa has reviewed the essential workplaces information provided by the Province; construction on critical infrastructure projects - including roads, bridges, sewer, water, transit and transportation - falls within the exemption. As such, at this time, the City is not suspending work on these types of projects.

The City is working closely with the industry and complying with restrictions and recommendations provided by municipal, provincial and federal health officials, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

The City of Ottawa continues to take precautionary steps to protect our employees and members of our community. All in-person public information sessions are being cancelled at this time.

Who: Design consulting firm, WSP, has been retained by the City to develop a design for rehabilitation of the Bank Street Canal bridge.

What: The City of Ottawa is undertaking the rehabilitation of the Bank Street Canal bridge. The proposed rehabilitation consists of concrete repairs to the bridge piers and soffits, as well as the existing sidewalks over the bridge. Bank Street will be resurfaced over the bridge and the existing lighting will be upgraded as part of this project.

Why: To enhance life span of the bridge, improve pedestrian safety and bridge aesthetics.

When: The current project schedule is as follows:

• Design completion: May 2020
• Construction start: summer 2020
• Construction completion: December 2020

Where: The project includes repairs to the Bank Street Canal bridge structure spanning over the Rideau Canal between Echo Drive and Wilton Crescent. Repairs will be undertaken over the bridge on Bank Street, and under the bridge via Colonel By Drive, Queen Elizabeth Drive and the Rideau Canal.

Notifications will be sent to residents prior to the start of construction.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

The City of Ottawa invites you to provide comments and feedback on the Bank Street Canal Bridge Rehabilitation project planned in your neighbourhood by May 7, 2020.

Boards [ 1.25 MB ]

For further information about this project, please contact the project manager.