Project overview
Project description
The City of Ottawa has initiated the preliminary design, detailed design and tender services for the renewal and replacement of the existing aging combined sewers and the watermains and road infrastructure on Ella Street and a portion of Ralph Street in the Glebe Community.
The aging combined sewers on Ella Street (from Gordon Street to Craig Street) and Ralph Street (from Fifth Avenue to Holmwood Avenue) require replacement due to poor condition. The watermains within the project limits also require replacement due to age, lead services and watermain breaks. On Ella Street, the watermain and sewer systems were installed in 1910. On Ralph Street, the sewers were installed in 1901 and 1949. There are two parallel watermains on Ralph Street, which were installed in 1895 and 1916.
As part of this watermain and sewer replacement project, full road reconstruction including curbs and sidewalks will be required on both streets. Efforts to manage implications to front yard landscaping and existing mature trees will be a project priority.
Project timing
Design: spring 2024
Construction start: spring 2025
Construction completion: end of 2025
Project budget
Approved project funds to date are $1,050,000.
Public engagement
A virtual public meeting is expected to be held in early 2024 to present the design drawings to the public. At this time attendees will be able to review the design, ask questions and provide comment on the proposed works. Other methods to involve community stakeholders will be implemented.
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.
Contact information
Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact:
City Project Manager
Will Ball, P.Eng.
Infrastructure Services
Design and Construction – Municipal
100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 26968
Online engagement opportunity (November 8 to 30, 2023)
The City of Ottawa invites you to review and provide comments on the draft design for the integrated renewal project that is posted here:
Ella Street - Utilities [ 1.17 MB ]
Ella Street – Conceptual map [ 1.74 MB ]
Ralph Street - Utilities [ 1.05 MB ]
Ralph Street - Conceptual map [ 1.55 MB ]
The online meeting previously planned for Wednesday, November 8, 2023 is being rescheduled. A new date will be shared with residents in the new year. In the meanwhile, you can still review the documents for the Integrated Renewal of Ella and Ralph Streets project on the project webpage and participate in the online engagement opportunity.
Your feedback can be submitted by email or by phone to the contact below, until November 30, 2023.
The virtual public meeting will be held via Zoom and will be rescheduled to a later date. New notices will be distributed to residents with the updated information.
What: The proposed integrated renewal of Ella and Ralph Streets include:
- Design and construction of a new combined sewer on Ella and Ralph Streets.
- Design and construction of a new watermain on Ella and Ralph Streets including replacement of all existing water services to property limits.
- Design and implement full road reconstruction including sidewalks and curbs on Ella and Ralph Streets.
- Design and implement of traffic calming measures per the City of Ottawa’s 30km/h toolbox, including curb extensions, speed humps, and narrowing Ralph Street to a 8.5m road width.
Why: To replace infrastructure beyond its service life.
Where: Ella Street from Craig to Gordon Streets, and Ralph Street from Fifth to Holmwood Avenues.
When: The current project schedule is as follows:
- Design is expected to be completed in spring 2024
- Construction is expected to start in spring 2025
Notices will be sent prior to construction.
Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the design consulting firm, Parsons Inc, to develop the preliminary and detailed designs for the Integrated Renewal of Ella and Ralph Streets.
For further information about this project and/or to submit comments on the project, please contact the City project manager.
Field investigations (May 2023)
Beginning in late May / early June, the City of Ottawa will undertake a subsurface utility engineering (SUE) mapping, geotechnical, hydrogeological and environmental investigations in your neighbourhood. This work is being completed to determine the underground utility, soil and groundwater conditions to support the design of the road, watermain and sewer replacement on Ella Street (from Gordon Street to Craig Street) and Ralph Street (from Fifth Avenue to Holmwood Avenue).
The purpose of this project is to renew aging underground infrastructure and reconstruct the roads and sidewalks. An invitation to an initial public consultation will be delivered later in 2023. At that meeting, the City will present the draft preliminary design to the community and obtain feedback. The construction of the project is tentatively scheduled for 2024, subject to funding availability.
What: The field investigation work will involve the drilling of boreholes, obtaining soil and water samples for testing, and locating subsurface utilities.
Why: This work is needed to support the design of the road, watermain and sewer reconstruction.
When: The field investigation work will commence in May/June 2023 and could take up to five (5) weeks. The work will be conducted between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Soil sample containers may remain on-site at some locations for an additional three weeks, pending lab results prior to being removed.
Where: Ella Street (from Gordon Street to Craig Street) and Ralph Street (from Fifth Avenue to Holmwood Avenue)
Who: Parsons Inc. and their sub-consultants, T2 Utility Engineers Inc., and Thurber Engineering Ltd. will coordinate the work for the City of Ottawa.
On-street parking
On street parking will be temporarily removed at each drill site during working hours. A Temporary On-Street Parking Permit (orange form) can be distributed to permit on-street parking within two blocks of your residence in certain instances.