Integrated renewal of Clare Street and Dovercourt Avenue

Project description

This project has been created to replace the existing road infrastructure, sanitary sewer and watermain in Clare Street, from Churchill Avenue N to Hilson Avenue, and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue N to Tweedsmuir Avenue. Additionally, sections of storm sewer will be installed within Dovercourt Avenue. The project will implement full road reconstruction on Clare Street from Churchill Avenue N to Hilson Avenue, and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue N to Tweedsmuir Avenue.

Project timing

Design: 2023-2024
Construction start: 2025
Construction completion: 2026

Project budget

Total project budget: $9.79 million (subject to budget approval)

Public engagement

A public information session was held on May 1, 2024, to present the design drawings to the public. At this time attendees were able to review the design, ask questions and provide comment on the proposed works.

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.

Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact:

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

Lead Design Consultant
Nathan Quinn, P.Eng.
Project Manager – Public Sector Engineering
Novatech
240 Michael Cowpland Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2M 1P6
Tel: 613-254-9643

The City of Ottawa held a public information session on May 1, 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 Integrated Renewal of Clare Street and Dovercourt Avenue were on display for review and staff were present to answer any questions and receive comments.

Residents can also participate through viewing and commenting on the online documents:

Presentation [ 1.04 MB ]

Clare Street
Plan & profile [ 2.27 MB ]
Roadway geometry plan [ 3.31 MB ]

Dovercourt Avenue
Plan & profile [ 1.00 MB ]
Roadway geometry plan [ 1.41 MB ]

Project summary

What: The renewal of the sewers, watermains, roadways and sidewalks. 

Why: The existing watermain, sanitary sewer and road infrastructure has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement to continue to provide the required level of service to your neighborhood.

When: The preliminary design phase for the project is complete. The detailed design is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Construction is anticipated to be carried out in 2025 and 2026 subject to funding approval. 

Where: Clare Street from Churchill Avenue to Hilson Avenue and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue to Tweedsmuir Avenue.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Novatech 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
Edson Donnelly, C.E.T.
Director – Public Sector Infrastructure
Novatech
240 Michael Cowpland Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2M 1P6
Tel.: 613-254-9643

Below are some frequently asked questions that have been received following the Public Information Session #1 (May 2024) for the Integrated Renewal of Clare Street and Dovercourt Avenue. Should you have other questions regarding this project, please contact the Project Manager at Stephen.Gallagher@ottawa.ca

Q1:     Why are bike lanes not planned for Clare Street? 

A1:     Bike lanes are not planned for Clare Street, as there is insufficient space to provide bike lanes, vehicle lanes, and sidewalks, without requiring significant removal of mature trees. The planned works, with narrower vehicles lanes, reduction in on-street parking, addition of traffic calming, and sidewalks on both sides of the street, largely limits impacts to mature trees along Clare Street.

Q2:     Is there traffic calming planned for Clare Street?

A2:     Yes, along Clare Street curb extensions are planned at all intersections and bus stops to narrow the roadway driving platform to better calm traffic. It is also noted that following the Public Information Session in May 2024, it has been determined that speed cushions will be installed along Clare Street. These vertical measures will serve to further calm traffic, while allowing larger vehicles (i.e. emergency services, buses, etc.) to more easily pass through them.

Q3:     The planned road works along Dovercourt Avenue result in a widening of the roadway and loss of driveway length within the City right of way for some residents. Is there anything that can be done to reduce the loss of driveway length?

A3:     The planned road works along Dovercourt Avenue includes some widening to accommodate sidewalk and road widths in accordance with City standards. At the May 2024 Public Information Session, a design generally consisting of an 8.5m pavement width and a 2m sidewalk on the north side of the street, was presented. Following the Public Information Session, it was decided to reduce the planned pavement width to 8.2m and planned sidewalk width to 1.8m, to help alleviate concerns raised by some residents.

Q4:     We are concerned that there will be additional traffic diverted to Dovercourt Avenue, east of Tweedsmuir Avenue during construction. Is the City considering allowing westbound vehicles to access this section of Dovercourt Avenue at Kirkwood Avenue during construction?

A4:     The City is not considering any modifications to the intersection of Dovercourt Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue to permit westbound traffic to enter Dovercourt Avenue from Kirkwood Avenue during construction. We appreciate the concerns regarding cut through traffic during construction. Further details on construction phasing and traffic management during construction will be provided at the next Public Information Session, in late 2024 or early 2025.

The City of Ottawa will be undertaking renewal works along Clare Street and Dovercourt Avenue in your neighbourhood.

What: The work includes the replacement of the existing road infrastructure, sanitary sewers and watermains in Clare Street from Churchill Avenue N to Hilson Avenue and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue N to Tweedsmuir Avenue. Additionally, sections of storm sewer will be installed within Dovercourt Avenue. The project will implement full road reconstruction on Clare Street from Churchill Avenue N to Hilson Avenue, and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue N to Tweedsmuir Avenue. During the design phase, various field investigations will be required, including: utility locates, right of way asset inventories, and geotechnical and environmental investigations.

Why: The proposed work will renew and improve existing aging sewers and watermains. As a result of the extent of the sewer and watermain works, the roadways will undergo a full reconstruction, with improvements included to calm traffic and improve safety for the betterment of all users.

When: Design work has already commenced, and will include environmental and geotechnical investigations, supplementary survey work and other field investigations, many of which will be taking place during spring and summer 2023.

The design is expected to be completed by early 2024.

Subject to budget approval, construction is expected to commence in mid-2024. The construction schedule will be confirmed during the design process and residents will be notified prior to construction commencement.

Where: Clare Street from Churchill Avenue N to Hilson Avenue and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue N to Tweedsmuir Avenue.

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained Novatech to undertake the design of this project.

Parking

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

Disruptions

Every precaution will be taken to minimize interruptions to residents. As you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the work. We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and co-operation.

The City of Ottawa will be conducting geotechnical, hydrogeological, and environmental investigations in your neighborhood. This work is being done to determine soil, bedrock, and groundwater conditions as part of the design phase of the Integrated Renewal of Clare Street and Dovercourt Avenue.

What: The investigation work will involve the drilling of boreholes, obtaining soil and water samples for testing to determine future construction methods and critical design information. The investigations will be done by workers and truck-mounted drilling equipment, as needed. Some short duration traffic control will be required to complete the work.

Why: This work supports the design work for the Integrated Renewal of Clare Street and Dovercourt Avenue.

When: The field investigation work will take place in the summer of 2023 and could take up to ten (10) business days to complete. The work will be conducted between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday.

Where: At localized spots along Clare Street from Churchill Avenue N to Hilson Avenue and Dovercourt Avenue from Churchill Avenue N to Tweedsmuir Avenue.

Who: Novatech and their Geotechnical/Environmental sub-consultant Gemtec will coordinate the work for the City of Ottawa.

Parking

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

Disruptions

Every precaution will be taken to minimize interruptions to residents. As you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the work. We would like to thank you in advance for your patience and co-operation.