Greenfield Avenue, Main Street, Hawthorne Avenue et al. reconstruction project

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Project description

The City of Ottawa is preparing to renew aging infrastructure and revitalize the right of way in the northern section of Old Ottawa East. The project area is predominantly bounded by the Rideau Canal to the west, King Edward Avenue to the north, Highway 417 to the east and Hawthorne Avenue to the south. A 160-metre section along Colonel By Drive/Echo Drive, which extends south of Hawthorne Avenue to Immaculata High School, is also included in the project limits. This work is being conducted to replace aging combined sewers with separate storm and sanitary sewers, replace sections of older watermains, and reconstruct the roadways, including the implementation of complete street features for the betterment of all road users in your community.

The Greenfield Avenue, Main Street, Hawthorne Avenue et al. reconstruction project is a multi-year project, with advanced construction work commencing in late summer 2021. In 2022, extensive underground and road construction work will occur, with expected completion in 2024, pending budget approvals. Once approvals are in place, the project team will communicate in advance of any updates to the schedule. Currently, the design work for this portion of the project is underway.

Project limits

The following street segments have been identified for reconstruction:

• Colonel By Drive (Graham Avenue to Main Street)
• Concord Street north (Echo Drive to Havelock Street)
• Echo Drive (Immaculata High School to Graham Avenue)
• Echo Drive (dead-end at Highway 417 to Concord Street north)
• Greenfield Avenue (Main Street to King Edward Avenue)
• Harvey Street (Echo Drive to Main Street)
• Hawthorne Avenue (Colonel By Drive to Main Street)
• Main Street (Harvey Street to Colonel By Drive)
• Montcalm Street (Greenfield Avenue to dead-end)

Key plans:

Advanced work

1. Updated project location key plan - Advance Works [ PDF 3.592 MB ]
2. Updated Main Street and Colonel By Drive - Advanced Works Plans  [ PDF 1.600 MB ]
3. Main Street intersection interim and ultimate [ 2.87 MB ]
4. Storm Sewer and Multi-Use Pathway Advanced Works Plans [ PDF 1.939 MB ]
5. Updated project location key plan - Overall Project, preliminary roadway geometry [ PDF 3.833 MB ]
6. Questions and answers [ 140 KB ]

Project Timing

2021

The work in 2021 will include the intersection of Colonel By Drive and Main Street along with preparatory road, sewer and watermain work, including:

• Colonel By Drive at Main Street – Intersection improvements
  • Full signalized intersection design including cycling connections to the canal pathway and proposed Main Street east and west cycling facilities to be constructed in the subsequent construction phase. The previously proposed multi-use pathway on the south side of Main Street is not compatible with current intersection design standards.
  • Geometry changes to the intersection of Main Street and Colonel By Drive allow for a north-south crossing of Main Street
• Colonel By Drive – Hawthorne Avenue to north of Highway 417 – storm sewer installation with trench reinstatement only, which involves reinstatement of the area immediately impacted by the sewer installation.
• Main Street – Greenfield Avenue to Echo Drive – watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer installation and temporary reinstatement of the area immediately impacted by the sewer, and watermain installation. Full road reinstatement will be conducted in the subsequent phase of construction
• Echo Drive – at Main Street - watermain, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer installation with temporary road reinstatement.
• Lees Avenue – Multi-Use pathway
• Hawthorne Avenue – Main Street to Colonel By Drive - relocation of gas main

2021 Construction limits

2022

In 2022, extensive underground and road construction work will occur, with expected completion in 2024, pending budget approvals. Once approvals are in place, the project team will communicate in advance any updates to the schedule.

Currently, the design work for this portion of the project is underway. The following street segments have been identified for reconstruction:

• Colonel By Drive (Graham Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue)
• Concord Street north (Echo Drive to Havelock Street)
• Echo Drive (Immaculata High School to Graham Avenue)
• Echo Drive (dead-end at Highway 417 to Main Street)
• Echo Drive (Main Street to Concord Street north)
• Greenfield Avenue (Main Street to King Edward Avenue)
• Harvey Street (Echo Drive to Main Street)
• Hawthorne Avenue (Colonel By Drive to Main Street)
• Main Street (Hawthorne Avenue to Echo Drive)
• Montcalm Street (Greenfield Avenue to dead-end)

2022-2024 Construction limits

Budget

The current estimated total projected budget for the Greenfield-Main-Hawthorne et al. reconstruction project is approximately $37.9 million. The council approved budget to date is $8.1 million to fund project design, utility relocations, property acquisitions and the 2021 advanced works. Additional funding will be requested through the 2022 budget process.

On May 10, 2021, through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) COVID-19 Resilience Stream, funding was approved and announced in the amount of $226,000 for the new intersection Colonel By Drive, Echo Drive at Main Street which is included in the current advanced works contract.

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 special 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, please call the City at 3-1-1.
For general project information, please contact the City’s Project Manager.
For construction related questions or concerns, please contact the Contractor Representative.

City project manager
Patrick Sammon, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction - Municipal
Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 29843

Design consultant representative
Nathan Quinn, P.Eng.
Lead Engineer/Project Manager
Public Sector Engineering
Novatech
240 Michael Cowpland Drive, Ottawa, ON K2M 1P6
Tel.: 613-254-9643, ext. 293

Contractor Representative
Scott Leduc
Site Superintendent – LW Bray
Tel: 613-930-3173

Contract Administrator
Mohammed Ghadban, P.Eng.
Novatech
Tel: 613-254-9643, ext. 290

City of Ottawa Inspector
Ken Barton
Construction Technician
Tel: 613-762-8349

To date, the following work has been completed:

• Sanitary and storm sewer installation on Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Echo Drive, including on Echo Drive
• Storm sewer installation on Colonel By Drive between Hawthorne Avenue and Main Street
• Watermain installation through the intersection of Main Street and Echo Drive/Colonel By Drive
• Retaining wall construction for the pathway link from Colonel By Drive down to the Eastern Canal pathway along the Rideau Canal
• Underground traffic signals and streetlighting infrastructure for the intersection signals and lighting

From now until late spring and early summer, the following will be completed on the advanced contract:

• Hydro Ottawa relocation work in proximity to the Echo Drive and Main Street intersection
• Final curb and sidewalk reinstatement to match new intersection geometry at the Colonel By Drive and Main Street intersection (includes tie-in to Echo Drive)
• Roadway construction including roadway granular base and asphalt placement
• Retaining wall railing installation and asphalt paving
• Landscaping reinstatement

It is anticipated that the new intersection will be open for use in summer 2022 with final construction and reinstatement of all connecting infrastructure completed at a later date, once all work has been completed on both the advanced and main projects.

This project includes a multi-use pathway (MUP) on Lees Avenue, from Greenfield Avenue to the LRT pathway. Construction timing for this MUP has not been determined, as details of the MUP connection to the Greenfield intersection are still being reviewed. In addition, the Lees Avenue closure and associated OC Transpo detour must be coordinated with the main contract activities beginning this summer. Further information on the anticipated timing of the Lees Avenue MUP construction will be provided at a later date.

Current traffic impacts – Advanced contract

The following road closures have been extended to accommodate ongoing construction as indicated above. Cyclist and pedestrian access will be maintained.

• Colonel By Drive southbound closure from Daly Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue has been extended to May 15, 2022. Alternate routes include Elgin Street or King Edward Avenue. Northbound lanes will remain open.
• Main Street between Greenfield Avenue and Colonel By Drive closure has been extended to Friday, June 10, 2022.
• Echo Drive between Harvey and Concord streets closure has been extended to Friday, June 10, 2022.

Online engagement opportunity

The main construction contract is currently in the design phase and is approaching completion. The City is committed to public consultation and an online engagement opportunity will occur in May to present the design. Stay tuned for more information about the online engagement opportunity.

2022 work – Main contract

Currently the following street segments are slated for construction in 2022, with expected reinstatement work in early 2023:

• Hawthorne Avenue: Main Street to Colonel By Drive – road, sewer, watermain and utility relocation of the overhead lines
• Echo Drive/Colonel By Drive: Hawthorne Avenue to Immaculata High School – road, sewer and watermain work
• Greenfield Avenue: Old Greenfield Avenue (north of Concord Street) to Lees Avenue – road, sewer and watermain work

Any required road closures, detours or major traffic disruptions required for the main contract work will be developed in coordination with the general contractor and communicated to residents in advance.

The Greenfield Avenue, Main Street, Hawthorne Avenue reconstruction project is a multi-year project to replace aging combined sewers with separate storm and sanitary sewers, replace sections of older watermains, and reconstruct the roadways, including the implementation of complete street features. Advanced construction work commenced in late summer 2021 thanks to funding secured through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Covid-19 Resilience Stream. In 2022, extensive underground and road construction work will occur, with expected completion in 2024, pending budget approvals.

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What: Change to Construction Schedule

Due to supply change shortages and construction coordination required with a private development on Echo Drive, the schedule for the advanced contract work at Colonel By Drive and Main Street/ Echo Drive intersection has been revised.

The City continues to work closely with our contractors and consultants to monitor the project schedule, and expedite areas of the project, where possible. The City remains committed to keeping the public informed throughout the duration of the project.

Due to the unforeseen delays in the advanced works contract, the Main Street, Echo Drive and south bound Colonel By Drive closures will extend to March 31, 2022. The Lees Avenue multi-use pathway will begin construction in spring 2022.

The tendering of the larger contract is expected to be issued in spring 2022. The project schedule will be confirmed upon selection of a preferred contractor.

Where: To complete the work, the following roads will remain closed until the end of March 2022:

• Main Street: Closed from Colonel By Drive to Greenfield Avenue
• Echo Drive (north of Main Street): The south access is closed, and Echo Drive has temporarily become a two-way roadway up to Concord Avenue until construction is completed.
• Echo Drive (south of Main Street): Is closed to vehicles to/from Main Street, however access for pedestrian and cyclists will remain.
• Colonel By Drive: Continues to be closed to unauthorized vehicles southbound from Daly Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue. Northbound lanes remain open.

When: Final landscaping and surface paving is scheduled to begin in the spring, with all works related to the Advanced Works project to be completed by the end of June 2022.

Why: The purpose of the overall Greenfield, Main, Hawthorne et al. Reconstruction project is to replace aging combined sewers with separate storm and sanitary sewers, replace sections of older watermains, and reconstruct the roadways, including the implementation of complete street features for the betterment of all road users in your community. The smaller Advanced Works contract, started in fall 2021, is supported in part by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

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

Traffic Impacts

The existing lane closures will continue in order to complete the construction works. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained through the construction limits, with temporary detours and crossings as required. No impacts to existing OC Transpo services are anticipated due to the works.

Temporary Pedestrian Crossings have been installed across both Echo Drive and Colonel By Drive to maintain connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists to/from the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway.

Parking

The contractor is obligated to provide 24 hr notification of temporary loss of access/egress. In the event that access to your driveway is restricted due to construction activities, a Temporary On-Street Parking Permit (orange form) will be distributed to permit on-street parking within two blocks of your residence.

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 construction work, such as delays and traffic detours, parking restrictions, 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.

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 and to the City’s on-site Representative. This will ensure prompt notification of appropriate authorities to complete the claim investigations. For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).

In July and early August 2021, an Online Engagement Opportunity was provided to residents and businesses to provide their feedback on the 2021 construction works.

The drawings for both the 2021 works and the preliminary design geometry for the larger project can be found under the project overview. Comments, including the additional comments received regarding the larger project’s preliminary design, are posted as well under the advance work section.

The project team is continuing to work on the detail design to ensure that the project meets current accessibility requirements and intersection design standards. It is anticipated that a public information session will be held within the next couple of months to present the final detail design to the community.

In the spring of 2021, through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Covid-19 Resilience Stream, funding was announced for improvements to the intersection of Main Street and Colonel By Drive. To take advantage of this funding, the City is proceeding with this smaller construction contract in advance of the larger Greenfield, Main, Hawthorne et. al. contract which will commence in 2022. This September, subject to all required approvals being in place, construction will begin for the Greenfield, Main, Hawthorne et al. IRSW Advanced Works project.

What: The work under this advanced works contract will include the following:

• • Full signalization of the intersection of Main Street and Colonel By Drive, including improved connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists to the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway as well as measures to ready the intersection for the planned cycling facilities which will be constructed along Main Street in the coming years;
  • Sewer and watermain replacement works within the area of the intersection of Main Street and Echo Drive;
  • Installation of new storm sewer within Colonel By Drive between Hawthorne Avenue and the Echo Drive dead end north of the Queensway; and
  • Replacement of approximately 140m of concrete sidewalk on the east side of Lees Avenue south of Greenfield Avenue with a new asphalt multi-use pathway (MUP) linking to the MUP which runs alongside the Confederation Line.

To complete the works, there will be traffic impacts as follows:

• Main Street – Colonel By Drive to Greenfield Avenue: This section of Main Street will be closed during the fall of 2021 while construction takes place.
• Echo Drive (north of Main Street): The south access will be closed, and Echo Drive will temporarily become a two-way roadway up to Concord Avenue until construction is completed in 2021.
• Echo Drive (south of Main Street): Will be closed to vehicles to/from Main Street, however access for pedestrian and cyclists will remain.
• Temporary Pedestrian Crossings will be installed across both Echo Drive and Colonel By Drive to maintain connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists to/from the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway.
• Colonel By Drive: Will be closed southbound from Daly Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue. Northbound lanes will remain open. Note: Colonel By Drive continues to be closed to vehicular traffic on weekends by the NCC until late October.
• Lees Avenue: South of Mann Avenue, the eastbound lane may be closed for up to nine (9) consecutive days to accommodate construction. Pedestrians and cyclist access will be maintained.

Why: The purpose of the overall Greenfield, Main, Hawthorne et al. Reconstruction project is to replace aging combined sewers with separate storm and sanitary sewers, replace sections of older watermains, and reconstruct the roadways, including the implementation of complete street features for the betterment of all road users in your community. This smaller Advanced Works contract is going forward this fall to take advantage of 2021 ICIP Funding that has been committed to intersection improvements at Main Street and Colonel By Drive.

When: The advanced works will start at the end of September 2021 with the majority of the works completed by the end of the year. Final landscaping and surface course paving is scheduled for spring 2022, with all works to be completed by the end of June 2022.

Where: Locations as follows:

• • Main Street and Colonel By Drive intersection
  • Main Street, from Greenfield Avenue to Echo Drive
  • Colonel By Drive from Hawthorne Avenue to north of the Queensway
  • Lees Avenue from Greenfield Avenue to approximately 140m south thereof

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

Traffic Impacts

Once Construction begins in September 2021, there will be lane closures in order to complete the construction works. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained through the construction limits, with temporary detours and crossings as required.

OC Transpo Service during the Construction

No impacts to existing OC Transpo services are anticipated due to the works.

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 construction work, such as delays and traffic detours, parking restrictions, 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.

Parking

The contractor is obligated to provide 24 hr notification of temporary loss of access/egress. In the event that access to your driveway is restricted due to construction activities, a Temporary On-Street Parking Permit (orange form) will be distributed to permit on-street parking within two blocks of your residence.

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 and to the City’s on-site Representative. This will ensure prompt notification of appropriate authorities to complete the claim investigations. For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).

• Project display boards (July 16, 2021) [ PDF 141 KB ]