O-Train East Extension Construction Activities

OVERVIEW

The O-Train East extension will see the Light Rail Transit (LRT) continue from Blair Station to Trim Road, adding 12 kilometres of rail; 5 new stations to the O-Train network at Montreal Road, Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Orléans Boulevard (Convent Glen Station), Place d’Orléans, and Trim Road; 4 new bridges; 6 bridges rehabilitated; 3 pedestrian bridges; and 3 major culverts.

The LRT will travel within the median of Ottawa Route (OR) 174.

 

We are in the final quarter of 2021 and heavy construction continues to take place across the east corridor as crews build rail, pedestrian, and road bridges, widen the OR174 (road reconstruction, grading, paving, guiderail installation and line painting), and rail guideway (dedicated rail line). Construction of all 5 stations will be underway by the end of the year.

While it is exciting to see progress on the LRT project, some of these activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including intermittent night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area. Construction team members review all upcoming work Monday mornings and provide an impact notice for overnight work. By emailing stage2@ottawa.ca and joining our list, we can share updates with you.

This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities along the O-Train East LRT project alignment, as well as the expected community impacts including hours of work, locations of crews and equipment, pedestrian, and vehicle mobility, etc.

MAJOR WORKS

See renderings of the LRT stations here.

Blair Station

Realignment of new intersections, including new islands, curbs, and pavement on Blair Road at the Transitway and the OR174 westbound off-ramp began in September and will continue through the Fall. It is intended that much of the work will be completed in the Fall prior to the onset of winter when local asphalt plants close. This work is required to accommodate the LRT guideway east of Blair Station.

174 Median Rail Bridge to Montreal Road Interchange

Work on the 174 Median Rail Bridge, 800 metres east of the OR174 Blair Road Interchange is largely complete, with girders, decking and parapets installed and concrete poured. Construction of an MSE (retaining) wall on the west abutment will begin in October. The bridge will then be ready for rail to be installed in 2022. 

Construction of new OR174 westbound lanes between Montreal Road and Blair Road were completed in September and westbound traffic was re-aligned to the north side of the 174 Median Rail Bridge.

 

Montréal Station

Crews and equipment have completed the construction of three new bridges including the installation of girders, deck panels, parapets, and other works within the median of the OR174 and the Montreal Road Interchange for the LRT guideway and tracks.

Station construction, with footings and the foundation wall on the south station, began in September 2021. The station is expected to be completed in March 2023.

 

As part of the project, there are relocations of utilities (watermain, drainage, sewers) along Montreal Road. These new utilities will be connected to Montréal Station.

Track Work

Rail, manufactured in Spain, was delivered to the Port of Johnstown, Ontario in the Spring, and transported via flatbed trucks to laydown sites in the guideway at Montréal Station and Place d’Orleans Station in August and September. Each piece of rail is 24 metres in length and welding of the pieces is underway. When completed, a total of 6,800 metric tonnes of rail will be laid on the O-Train East Extension.

For the remainder of 2021 crews and equipment will focus on preparing the LRT guideway and welding the rail. Rail installation will begin between Montréal Station and Jeanne d’Arc Station in the Spring of 2022. All track work in the East will be completed in 2022.

 

Jeanne d’Arc Station

Jeanne D’Arc station construction has been ongoing since late May 2021 and is progressing with concrete, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing works for station footings, walls, and slabs.

Work on a pedestrian bridge at Green’s Creek began in the Spring but has largely been on-hold. The bridge is expected to be completed in the Winter 2022.

 

Convent Glen Station

Work began in the Spring to relocate major utilities (water, sewer) along OR174 at Orléans Boulevard to facilitate highway road widening work. Work on the north side of OR174 was completed in September. Work on the south side will continue through the Fall 2021, followed by roadwork.

Station construction at Convent Glen is scheduled to begin in December 2021.

 

Place d’Orléans Station

Rock breaking and station excavation in the OR174 median, required for the guideway and the future Place d’Orléans LRT Station was completed in July 2021. The site was handed over to the station constructor and station construction is underway with excavation, formwork, and rebar installation.

 

Trim Station

Construction in the OC Transpo Park & Ride is ongoing with work on lights, conduits, and footings at and around the site of the future Trim LRT Station. It is scheduled for completion in October 2021.

Excavation in the guideway for the station is underway. Station construction will begin in November 2021.

In August 2021, the new Trim Road North/South realignment was completed and the interchange with OR174 opened. The OR174 eastbound and westbound realignment at Trim will be completed in October.

Greening Our Community

As part of the tree replacement program for the Stage 2 LRT Project, the City of Ottawa, and the National Capital Commission (NCC) are partnering to plant 3000 trees on NCC lands at Green’s Creek. Tree planting began in September 2021 and will continue through the Fall.

Here is the list of tree species being planted:

• Red Maple
• Silver Maple
• Sugar Maple
• Northern Hackberry
• White Oak
• Red Oak
• White Birch
• Eastern Hop-Hornbeam
• Large Toothed Aspen
• Balsam Poplar
• Eastern Cottonwood
• Burr Oak
• Black Willow
• American Basswood
• Balsam Fir
• White Spruce
• Trembling Aspen
• Peachleaf Willow
• Eastern Red Cedar
• Elderberry
• Chokeberry Serviceberry
• Saskatoon Berry

 

Noise Walls

The construction of four (4) noise walls along the north side corridor of OR174 between Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and Tenth Line Road began in May 2021. This work continued through the Summer and will be completed in the Fall 2021 at the following locations:

• OR174 between Orléans Boulevard and Bilberry Creek
• OR174 west of Tenth Line Road
• OR174 between Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and Orléans Boulevard
• OR174 between Bilberry Creek and the OC Transpo Orléans Park & Ride

 

Noise walls on the south side of OR 174 will begin in 2022.

COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Typically, most work is scheduled to occur from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. However, there will be requirements for overnight work across the entire corridor, and some intermittent weekend work.

Night work is needed at times to accommodate work that requires traffic closures that cannot be done during the day, thus mitigating impacts on the travelling public. In addition, for works that are “schedule critical”, night work may be required to meet the schedule on this large and complex project.

Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected. Noise and vibration levels are continuously monitored and reported to the City to ensure they are within the limits established for the Project.

Site lighting for overnight work will be required.

During roadworks, such as the realignment of the OR174 to make space for the guideway (median), commuters can expect lane reductions and lane closures.

All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place. Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.

For residents whose property borders the affected construction zone, equipment in the area may cause additional noise and occasional vibration as the work progresses. The City of Ottawa thanks residents for their patience as we work to complete these construction activities.

ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility is an important consideration for the Stage 2 LRT project. The Stage 2 team makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require special accommodation, please contact stage2@ottawa.ca.

The safety of the public and the workers is paramount, and we thank you for your patience during construction.

Reminder: The construction work outlined in this notice is subject to change. Work may be delayed or extended due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

CONTACT US

This notice provides an overview of major activities expected to occur until December 2021. Specific timing of activities, including road closures or detours, overnight activities, or other major works, will be communicated in advance via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter. Please sign up to ensure you receive the latest updates.

To receive these newsletter updates, please sign up at Ottawa.ca/Stage2Connect.

For any other questions, please contact Stage2@ottawa.ca.

For other accommodations, please contact:

Dianna Ashworth

Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program

City of Ottawa

dianna.ashworth1@ottawa.ca

Date posted: August 16, 2021

As part of the Stage 2 O-Train Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, motorists travelling Montreal Road should anticipate weekday overnight impacts as crews work to install deck panels for the new LRT bridge and guideway.

WHAT

Overnight lane closures of Montreal Road

WHEN

Montreal Road Westbound:

• August 17
• August 18 (Contingency)
• August 25

Montreal Road Eastbound:

• August 26
• August 27

WHY

Installation of deck panels for the LRT bridge and guideway

WHERE 

Montreal Road below the OR 174

HOURS

6:30 pm to 5:30 am

ANTICIPATED IMPACTS

Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected. Noise and vibration levels are continuously monitored and reported to the City to ensure they are within the limits established for the Project.

Site lighting for overnight work will be required.

Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.

Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place. The MUP along Montreal Road will remain open, with flaggers in-place.

Night work is needed at times to accommodate work that requires traffic closures that cannot be done during the day, thus mitigating impacts on the travelling public. In addition, for works that are schedule critical, night work may be required to meet the schedule on this large and complex project.

The construction work outlined in this notice is subject to change. Work may be delayed or extended due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Accessibility is an important consideration for the Stage 2 LRT project. The Stage 2 team makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require special accommodation, please contact stage2@ottawa.ca.

The safety of the public and the workers is paramount, and we thank you for your patience during construction.

CONTACT US

Any changes to the duration or impact of this work will be only be communicated via the Stage 2 project newsletter.

For other accommodations, or any questions, please contact: Dianna.ashworth1@ottawa.ca or stage2@ottawa.ca.

90-Day Lookahead – July to September 2021

OVERVIEW

The O-Train East extension will see the Light Rail Transit (LRT) continue from Blair Station to Trim Road, adding 12 kilometres of rail; 5 new stations to the O-Train network at Montreal Road, Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard, Orléans Boulevard (Convent Glen Station), Place d’Orléans, and Trim Road; 4 new bridges; 6 bridges rehabilitated; 3 pedestrian bridge; and 3 major culverts.

The LRT will travel predominantly within the median of Ottawa Route (OR) 174.

We are mid-way through 2021 and heavy construction continues to take place throughout the east alignment as crews build rail, pedestrian and road bridges, new highway lanes, the rail guideway (dedicated rail line) and begin station construction.

While it is exciting to see progress on the LRT project, some of these activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including intermittent night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area. Construction team members review all upcoming work Monday mornings and provide an impact notice for overnight work. By emailing stage2@ottawa.ca we can share the update with you for awareness.

This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities along the O-Train East LRT project alignment, as well as the expected community impacts including hours of work, noise from crews and equipment, pedestrian, and vehicle mobility, etc.

MAJOR WORKS

See the latest renderings of the LRT stations here.

Blair Station to Montreal Road Interchange

Work continues to progress on the 174 Median Rail Bridge, 800 metres east of the OR174 Blair Road Interchange. With girders and decking installed and concrete poured, final details such as the installation of parapets and other works are left remaining. The bridge will be completed in mid-September 2021, with guideway and track work to follow thereafter. 

Currently, eastbound, and westbound traffic are directed to the south side of the existing median allowing for the continued construction of the 174 Median Rail bridge. The construction of new westbound lanes on the north side will start in Summer 2021 and will be completed by the end of September 2021.

Montréal Station

Crews and equipment continue to build a new bridge within the median of the OR174 and the Montreal Road Interchange for the LRT guideway and tracks.

To facilitate this work, lane closures continue to be in place until mid-July 2021. Northbound lanes under the OR174 overpass continue to be closed and southbound lanes have been repurposed to accommodate bi-directional traffic. As a result, vehicular lanes have been reduced to one lane in each direction. Pedestrians and cycling movements continue to be maintained via the newly improved multi-use pathway (MUP) on the south side of Montreal Road. After mid-July 2021, northbound lanes will continue to be closed, however, lane adjustments will be made to carry normal traffic flow in both directions.

Bridge construction and station excavation will continue until mid-September 2021. Construction activities will include the installation of girders, deck panels, parapets, and other works. Once the bridge is completed, the start of the station construction will begin in September 2021.

The first laying of rail tracks will happen at the beginning of September 2021, east of the future Montréal LRT Station.

Jeanne d’Arc Station

Significant road and ramp work were completed this past Spring over several weekends. In addition, excavation in the median of OR174 took place to facilitate the construction start of the future Jeanne d’Arc LRT Station which also started in the Spring.

Residents over the summer months can expect that station construction will continue in the median.

Westbound OR174 widening between Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway and Green’s Creek will start in July 2021 with lane closures expected to be required in mid-August.

Work on a pedestrian bridge at Green’s Creek started in the Spring and is targeted to be completed in the Winter 2022.

In addition, work on the guideway between Sir George-Etienne Parkway to Orléans Boulevard Overpass will continue over the Summer months and will be completed in September 2021 and ready for the installation of ties and tracks.

Convent Glen Station

Over the Spring, major utilities and drainage work took place on both the north and south sides around Orléans Boulevard. This was required to facilitate upcoming roadwork.

Roadwork to facilitate the realignment of the OR174 eastbound and westbound started this past June and will continue until the end of August 2021. Motorists can expect lane closures in both directions of OR174 throughout the summer. Any traffic impacts will be communicated in advance.

Guideway (median) work in the form of removal and excavation of asphalt and concrete will begin in September 2021.

Place d’Orléans Station

Significant road and ramp work were completed this past Spring over several weekends.

Rock breaking and excavation in the OR174 median, required for the guideway and the future Place d’Orléans LRT Station, will continue until the end of July 2021. Once completed, the station construction will begin.

To construct a noise wall west of the OC Transpo Orléans Park & Ride crews and equipment will begin clearing the area in early July 2021. Work will include site mobilization, tree and vegetation removal. Multiple trees will be removed as part of this construction work. In addition, in early July 2021, the closure of the MUP between Billberry Creek and the Park & Ride will take place. Fencing will be in place to create a safe work zone, away from pedestrians and cyclists. A MUP detour along Billberry Drive and Joe Jamieson Park will be accessible during the closure of the existing MUP with detour signage visible.

Trim Station

Over the Spring, major utilities and drainage work took place at the OC Transpo Trim Park & Ride and around the site of the future Trim LRT Station. The work is ongoing.

In addition, the construction of a new eastbound off-ramp, and the new Trim Road North/South realignment

began in the Spring with topsoil removal, embankment, and granular placement. Most of the work is expected to be completed by mid-August 2021.The 174 eastbound realignment and the excavation of the new Station will start this fall.

Eastbound and westbound OR174 realignment which began in June 2021 will continue until the end of September 2021. The work is required for the guideway and the future Trim LRT Station. Once space has been created, rock breaking and excavation in the OR174 median will begin in September 2021 for the guideway.

Motorists can expect major weekend traffic impacts during the Summer months. Please visit Ottawa.ca/Stage2 for the most up-to-date information:

• June 26-27, 2021: full eastbound and westbound OR174 lane closures at Taylor Creek
• July 24-25, 2021: full westbound closure and lane shifts for the new northwest on-ramp acceleration lane with temporary tie on to the existing OR174 westbound lane at Montreal Interchange
• August 7-8, 2021: eastbound and westbound OR174 lane closures at Trim Road
• September 11-12, 2021: eastbound and westbound OR174 lane closures at Tenth Line Road

Noise Walls

The construction of four (4) noise walls along the north side corridor of OR174 between Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and Tenth Line Road began in May 2021. This work will continue through the Fall, 2021 at the following locations:

• OR174 between Orléans Boulevard and Bilberry Creek
• OR174 west of Tenth Line Road
• OR174 between Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard and Orléans Boulevard
• OR174 between Bilberry Creek and the OC Transpo Orléans Park & Ride

COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Typically, most work is scheduled to occur from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. However, throughout the notice period, there will be requirements for overnight work across the entire corridor, and some intermittent weekend work.

Night work is needed at times to accommodate work that requires traffic closures that cannot be done during the day, thus mitigating impacts on the travelling public. In addition, for works that are schedule critical, night work may be required to meet the schedule on this large and complex project.

Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected. Noise and vibration levels are continuously monitored and reported to the City to ensure they are within the limits established for the Project.

Site lighting for overnight work will be required.

During roadworks, such as the widening of the OR174 to make space for the guideway (median), commuters can expect lane reductions and lane closures. Any impacts will be communicated to the public through the City’s electronic newsletter. Sign up to receive updates at Ottawa.ca/Stage2Connect.

All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place. Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.

For residents whose property borders the affected construction zone, equipment in the area may cause additional noise and occasional vibration as the work progresses. The City of Ottawa thanks residents for their patience as we work to complete these construction activities.

The safety of the public and the workers is paramount, and we thank you for your patience during construction.

Reminder: The construction work outlined in this notice is subject to change. Work may be delayed or extended due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

CONTACT US

This notice provides an overview of major activities expected to occur until September 2021. Specific timing of activities, including road closures or detours, overnight activities, or other major works, will be communicated in advance via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter. Please sign up to ensure you receive the latest updates.

To receive these newsletter updates please sign up at Ottawa.ca/Stage2Connect.

For any other questions, please contact Stage2@ottawa.ca.

For other accommodations, please contact:

Dianna Ashworth

Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program

City of Ottawa

dianna.ashworth1@ottawa.ca

March to June 2021

The O-Train East Extension is one of the three major extensions to Ottawa’s light rail transit system. The extension will add over 12 km of new rail and 5 new stations (Montreal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans, and Trim) between Blair Road and Trim Road. The LRT will travel predominantly within the median of Highway 174.In 2021, heavy construction will take place throughout the east alignment as crews build rail, pedestrian and road bridges, new highway lanes, the rail guideway (dedicated rail line) and begin station construction. While it is exciting to see progress on the LRT project, some of these activities may cause disruptions for area residents, including intermittent night work, traffic detours, site lighting or additional construction vehicles in the area. This notice provides an overview of upcoming activities along the O-Train East LRT project alignment, as well as the expected community impacts including hours of work, noise from crews and equipment, pedestrian, and vehicle mobility, etc.

MAJOR WORKS 

Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge

Work continues to progress on the Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge, 800 metres east of the OR174 Blair Road Interchange. In April, girders (horizontal supports for the bridge) will be laid on top of the columns, followed by the installation of decking. The Blair Station to 174 Median Rail Bridge structure will be completed in the Summer 2021, with track work to follow.

Blair Road to Montreal Road

Last year, new eastbound and westbound highway traffic lanes were constructed on the south side of the 174, between Blair Road and Montreal Road to create space for the LRT guideway. Crews and equipment in the area, are now removing the asphalt and concrete from the old highway in the median. This work is occurring daytime and overnight until September.

Montréal Station

In January, crews and equipment began building a new bridge within the median of OR174 across Montreal Road, at the Highway 174 Interchange. This new bridge is required to create enough space for the LRT guideway and the new Montréal Station. Through March, construction activities for the bridge include excavation and drilling caissons – part of the bridge foundations. From March through June, activities will include the completion of the bridge’s columns, abutments, and pier caps. This will require lane reductions along Montreal Road.

Jeanne d’Arc Boulevard

In November 2020, crews and equipment began work to modify the access to Jeanne d’Arc on-ramps at OR174. This is required to create safer connections for pedestrians and cyclists on the Jeanne d’Arc bridge. While this work continues, there will also be on-going electrical and utility work required prior to the construction of the new Jeanne d’Arc LRT station, beginning in May 2021. In addition, work on the guideway including the installation of drainage in the median between Sir George Etienne Parkway to Orléans Boulevard Overpass began in February. This work will continue throughout the year.

Orléans Boulevard

Work continues at Orléans Boulevard, north and south of the 174, to relocate utilities, including a watermain, storm and sanitary sewer and gas line. On the west side of Orléans Boulevard, a culvert to improve drainage will be installed. This work will continue through June 2021.

Place d’Orléans

Beginning in April, significant construction activities will begin near Place d’Orléans with rock excavation. Hoe-ramming will be required to break up the bedrock. Excavation is also required to realign the 174 north and south of the existing highway to move traffic to make room for the work to build the guideway and the Place d’Orléans Station. There will be further rock excavation required for the guideway and station. The rock breaking and excavation work will continue through July 2021. Utilities work, such as drainage installation, willcontinue through the Spring this year.

Trim

A new watermain and sewer line is being installed to service the future Trim LRT Station and busfacility. At the same time, construction of a new eastbound off-ramp, and a future realignment of TrimRoad will begin with topsoil removal, embankment, and granular placement. A road closure at Dairy Drive, from the traffic circle of Trim Road, to the Agropur Cooperative began in February. The Agropur Cooperative will remain accessible via Old Montreal Road (east of Trim Road). Closure of South Frontage, between the OC Transpo Park and Ride / Trim Station and Dairy Drive will continue until July 2021. The OC Transpo Park and Ride and Trim Station access to southbound Trim Road will be maintained via the construction of a detour route. These activities are required to create a cul de sac which will facilitate the work for the future site of Trim Station.

 COMMUNITY IMPACTS

Typically, most work is scheduled to occur from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. There will be requirements for overnight work across the entire corridor, and some intermittent weekend work, throughout the year.

Noise and vibration from trucks and heavy equipment is expected.

Site lighting for overnight work will be required.

All pedestrian, cycling, bus, and vehicular movements will generally be maintained during construction apart from highway ramp closures. Pedestrians and cyclists should use extra caution when localized detours are in place.

Motorists should adhere to detours, traffic control signage, posted speed limits, and use extra caution as traffic patterns change. Motorists should use caution and allow for added travel time when moving through active construction corridors.

CONTACT US

This notice provides an overview of activities expected to occur until June 2021. Specific timing of activities, including road closures or detours, overnight activities or other major works, will be communicated in advance via the Stage 2 project e-newsletter.  

For questions, please contact:

Dianna Ashworth

Stakeholder Relations, Rail Construction Program

City of Ottawa

dianna.ashworth1@ottawa.ca