Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction (south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road)

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Project description

The City of Ottawa is undertaking the design work for a two-kilometre widening of Bank Street from two to four lanes, including a raised median and modifications to signalized intersections that will have protected intersection features. The project will also include approximately four kilometres of sidewalks, cycle tracks and grass boulevards and 0.6 kilometres of paved shoulders.

The project limits include:

• Bank Street from south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road

Municipal services

As part of the Bank Street Widening Project, the City is replacing the existing local sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and watermain infrastructure. This will include the replacement of service laterals to the property line:

• The watermain will be replaced throughout the project limits.
• The sanitary sewer will be replaced from south of Leitrim Road to 125 metres south of White Alder Avenue.
• The storm sewer will be replaced through the project limits.

In addition, one of the sanitary forcemains within the limits will be replaced from south of Leitrim Road to the pump station on Findlay Creek Drive.

Road works

The work includes the widening of Bank Street through the project limits to service the future traffic volumes from the on-going development of Findlay Creek. 

This will include upgrades to the corridor cross-section that will include:

• New four-lane roadway cross-section
• New two metre sidewalks on both sides of Bank Street
• Dedicated protected cycling facilities on both sides of Bank Street
• Five fully protected intersections

Project timing

Design completion: winter 2024
Construction start: spring 2024
Construction completion: to be confirmed

Construction staging

2024 Works (First stage)

• Construction of Bank Street from Blais Road to Shuttleworth Drive, including road, water, sewers, sidewalks, bike facility, and the Findlay Creek culvert
  • Bank Street closure just north of Blais Road to just south of Shuttleworth Drive from July 2 to December 2024
  • Detours will be in place along Hawthorne and Albion roads
  • Temporary roadway widening for 2025 readiness expected between Shuttleworth Drive and Leitrim Road (no traffic impacts)
  • Some utility relocations along the whole corridor (Hydro, Enbridge)
• Construction of the Blais/Miikana intersection
  • To be constructed while maintaining traffic
• Construction of storm sewer and watermain across the Bank/Shuttleworth intersection (underground only)

2025/2026 Works (Second stage)

• Construction along Bank Street from Shuttleworth Drive (including the intersection) to south of Leitrim Drive
• Two lanes of traffic will be maintained but traffic delays are to be expected
  • Lane closures/flagging may be required off-peak to facilitate construction operations
• Construction work fronting businesses
  • Partial closures of driveway entrances are to be expected as the work progresses. Restrictions will be in place to minimize disruptions and ensure all other accesses (if applicable) remain open and unobstructed.
• Findlay Creek Drive from Bank Street to approximately 150 metres west will be impacted to install the new sanitary forcemain to the existing pump station
  • Two lanes of traffic will be maintained, but delays are to be expected.

Project budget

Approved project funds to date are $50 million.

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.

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.

For any emergency outside normal working hours on weekdays and weekends, please call the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1.
To obtain any additional information on this project, please contact the City’s Project Manager:

City Project Manager
Stephen Gallagher, P.Eng., PMP.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction – Municipal
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 16011

Contract Administrator
Scott Weisenberg, P.Eng.
Robinson Consultants Inc.
Tel: 613-592-6060, ext. 112

City On-Site Representative
Tim Dejong
Construction Technician
Tel: 613-552-0376

Contractor Representative
Travis Jones, Project Manager
Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited
Tel: 613-552-6931

In late July, the City of Ottawa will start the construction of traffic calming measures on White Alder Avenue as part of the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project. To accommodate construction, temporary driveway impacts will occur and lane closures with flagging. No road closures are to take place. These measures are being implemented to increase resident safety in the community.

What: The White Alder Traffic Calming measures involves the installation of bulb-outs, speed humps, and pavement markings.

Please visit the Online Survey Results and Final Recommendations (November 2022 update) webpage for further information.

Why: To instate permanent traffic calming measures in the White Alder community.

When: Construction is to begin in late July and be complete by the end of August 2024.

Where: White Alder Avenue, Widgeon Way, Spartina Street, Kelly Farm Drive, Mangrove Crescent, Bulrush Crescent, Buttonbush Way, and Meadowlilly Road.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the contractor, Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd, to complete the work.

Traffic management

No road closures are taking place. Lane closures will occur to install all of the measures at different points in the community. Flagging operations will occur when lane closures are in place. Sidewalks will be closed at points during the construction. Detours will be in place to accommodate pedestrians.

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.

Short term disruptions to water service may be experienced by properties along Bank Street or in close proximity to Bank Street. If your property will be impacted, you will receive notification of the anticipated timelines in advance of the disruption to ensure you are able to plan accordingly.

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. 

For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).

As part of the 2024 construction works, the first stage of this multi-year project, work will focus on the construction of Bank Street from Miikana Road/Blais Road to Shuttleworth Drive.

This work will include:

• Construction of the Bank Street and Blais Road/Miikana Road intersection
• Replacement of the 35 metre culvert of Findlay Creek which crosses Bank Street south of Shuttleworth Drive
• Construction of the new storm sewer and watermain below the creek
• Renewal of Bank Street in this segment including road, water, sewers, sidewalks, bike facility, and the new creek culvert

In order to address the challenging conditions, in particular the depth needed to be excavated safely and the removal of the 35 metre culvert, the project team has had to make the difficult decision to close Bank Street temporarily between Miikana Road/Blais Road and Shuttleworth Drive from July 2 to December 2024.

A signed detour will be in place to redirect traffic around the community to avoid local gridlock.

Formal notices will be mailed to the local community in advance of construction to share further details and confirm timelines.

A thorough presentation on the project and its unique challenges was presented to the Findlay Creek community in March 2024 through two sessions, one for the business community and one for the residents as part of their annual Town Hall meeting. 

Stay up to date on the project by following the project website and signing up for the project email updates.

If you have any questions, you can contact the project team at bankwidening@ottawa.ca.

In late June, the City of Ottawa will start construction on the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project. To accommodate construction in 2024, Bank Street will be closed from Shuttleworth Drive to Blais/Miikana from July 2 to December 2024. The closure is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and workers during the construction within this area.

What: The widening of Bank Street to four lanes includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains and sanitary and storm sewers. The project also includes the rehabilitation of streetscape elements including sidewalk, cycling and transit, provisions, street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements.

Why: To rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

When: Construction is to begin in late June 2024 and be complete in fall 2026.

Where: Bank Street from south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the contractor, Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd, to complete the work.

Traffic management

Bank Street will be closed from Shuttleworth Drive to Blais/Miikana from July to December 2024.

Detour 1 (West): via Rideau Road – Albion Road – Lester Road
Detour 2 (East): via Rideau Road – Hawthorne Road – Leitrim Road

Traffic will be maintained on Bank Street from Shuttleworth Drive to Leitrim Road. The east, west, and south legs of the Blais Road /Miikana Road intersection will remain open during the closure allowing vehicles to access Hawthorne Road as well as travel south on Bank Street. Similarly, the east, west, and north legs of the Shuttleworth Drive intersection will remain open during the closure allowing vehicles to access the Findlay Creek Centre as well as travel north on Bank Street. To accommodate the proposed construction, lane reductions during off peak times can be expected for short durations.

Support local businesses during construction

The contractor will ensure access to local businesses is available at all times and will be working with our local businesses to coordinate works so that customer access is not impeded. Signage is now posted along Bank Street and on the detour route to indicate that Findlay Creek businesses are open as usual.

You are encouraged to shop locally and support the Findlay Creek Bank Street and area businesses during this construction period.

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. Short term disruptions to water service may be experienced by properties along Bank or in close proximity to Bank Street. If your property will be impacted, you will receive notification of the anticipated timelines in advance of the disruption to ensure you are able to plan accordingly. 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.

Pre-construction inspection

The contractor is required to carry out a pre-construction inspection of homes in the work area if the homeowner is in agreement. A representative from the contractor or designate will be contacting you to schedule these inspections. 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.

Night work

The City’s noise by-law normally prohibits work between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am, Monday to Saturday and between 10 pm and 9 am on Sunday, however construction during the overnight hours may be required to complete this work. A noise by-law exemption permit will be obtained to allow work to occur during overnight hours as needed. For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).

The City of Ottawa held a Public Information Session – Open House on June 11, to discuss the upcoming construction of the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project, including the closure of Bank Street from Shuttleworth Drive to Blais/Miikana. Through this session, the latest plans, proposed schedule, road closure plan and associated detour routes were on display for your review and staff were present to answer any questions and receive comments.

In addition to the above meeting, residents can also participate through viewing and commenting on the online documents:

Presentation [ 3.48 MB ]

Your input is an important part of the consultation process. Your questions can be submitted by email or by phone to the contact below by June 25, 2024.

Project summary

What: The proposed renewal of Bank Street includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains and sanitary and storm sewers. The project also includes the rehabilitation of streetscape elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements.  

Why: The vision for the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project is to rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

When: Construction of the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project is expected to commence in June 2024. The closure of Bank Street from Shuttleworth Drive to Blais/Miikana is scheduled from the end of June to mid-December.

Where: The project limits are Bank Street from south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais/Miikana.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consultants as the designer for the project and Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd as the contractor for the construction phase.

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

The following information was shared to the business community on March 21 and at the Findlay Creek Town Hall on March 26.

Road closure information package [ 8.52 MB ]

Your feedback can be shared with the project manager by sending an email Stephen.Gallagher@ottawa.ca.

The City of Ottawa held a Public Information Session – Open House on January 23, 2024, to discuss a reconstruction project planned in your neighbourhood. Through this session, the latest design drawings, proposed schedule, and construction information related to the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project were on display for your review and staff were present to answer any questions and receive comments.

In addition to the above meeting, residents can also participate through viewing and commenting on the online documents posted below. Your input is an important part of the consultation process. Your feedback can be submitted by email or by phone to the contact below by February 6, 2024.

Presentation [ 2.05 MB ]
Drawing 01 [ 13.54 MB ]
Drawing 02 [ 14.23 MB ]
Drawing 03 [ 13.28 MB ]
Drawing 04 [ 13.36 MB ]
Drawing 05 [ 13.09 MB ]
Drawing 06 [ 13.50 MB ]

Summary report [ 91.63 KB ]

Project summary

What: The proposed renewal of Bank Street includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains and sanitary and storm sewers. The project also includes the rehabilitation of streetscape elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements. 

Why: The vision for the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project is to rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

When: The detail design phase for the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project is almost complete with project tendering expected in February 2024. Construction for this project is scheduled to begin in spring 2024. 

Where: Bank Street from south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consultants to develop the design drawings for this project.

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. 

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

City of Ottawa Project Manager
Stephen Gallagher, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction – Municipal
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 16011

Consultant Project Manager
Kelly Lalonde, P.Eng.
Project Manager, Robinson Consultants Inc.
350 Palladium Drive, Suite 210, Ottawa ON K2V 1A8
Tel.: 613-592-6060, ext. 141

The City of Ottawa held a Public Information Session on April 24, 2023, to discuss a reconstruction project planned in your neighbourhood. Through this session, the City of Ottawa presented the latest design drawings, proposed schedule, and construction information related to the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project in advance of the start of detail design.

Residents can also participate through viewing and commenting on the online documents below. Your input is an important part of the consultation process. Your feedback can be submitted by email or by phone to the contact below by May 19, 2023.

Presentation [ 2.07 MB ]
Drawings [ 9.92 MB ]

Project summary

What: The proposed renewal of Bank Street includes the installation, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various components of the underground infrastructure including watermains and sanitary and storm sewers. The project also includes the rehabilitation of streetscape elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting, traffic signals and streetscape improvements. 

Why: The vision for the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project is to rehabilitate underground infrastructure and construct a safe arterial main street which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians.

When: The detail design phase for the Bank Street Widening and Reconstruction project is set to be completed in summer 2023 with project tendering being completed in fall 2023. Construction for this project is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2024. 

Where: Bank Street from south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Robinson Consultants to develop preliminary and detailed design drawings for this project.

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

City of Ottawa Project Manager
Stephen Gallagher, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction – Municipal
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 16011

Consultant Project Manager
Kelly Lalonde, P.Eng.
Project Manager, Robinson Consultants Inc.
350 Palladium Drive, Suite 210
Ottawa ON K2V 1A8
Tel.: 613-592-6060, ext. 141