Construction season kicks off in Ottawa

Ottawa's second season is officially underway – construction season!

The City of Ottawa says $600 million will be spent on bridge renewals, road rehabilitation, road resurfacing work, culvert renewals and replacements, and traffic calming measures.

"We're going to see a lot more resurfacing; people want to see those resurfaced, rebuilt," transportation committee chair, Coun. Tim Tierney told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa at Work with guest host Chris Holski.

"Your taxpayers money, you're going to see first-hand being spent very wisely."

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Tierney, Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stephanie Plante marked the start of construction season on the MacKenzie King Bridge.

"That bridge needs some heavy, heavy rehab on it," Tierney said.

The City of Ottawa is rehabilitating portions of the MacKenzie King Bridge, between Elgin Street and Nicholas Street, which has four continuous bridge structures. The city says, "The purpose of the project is to undertake structural rehabilitation and lifecycle renewal requirements of the bridge structures. The project also includes rearrangement and reconstruction of the surface roadway elements."

Work this year will include completing all work related to the placement of new concrete overlay and remaining portions of the concrete sidewalk and cycle track. The full construction project will be completed by the end of 2025.

The city says the $600 million for construction this year will be spent this year on road rehabilitation ($68.7 million), structures and bridges ($38.7 million), buildings and parks ($63.2 million), sidewalks and pathways ($9.4 million), integrated road-water-sewer projects ($163.6 million) and on culverts ($15.2 million). The city will also spend $62.6 million for drinking water treatment and drinking water infrastructure.

In 2023, the city spent $800 million on road construction projects.

"I'm going to ask everyone to put on their patience pants," Tierney said. "We have to get this done, otherwise you're going to be popping rims and doing all crazy things to your cars."

Here is a look at some of the road and pedestrian projects scheduled for Ottawa this year:

Albert/Queen/Slater/Bronson reconstruction: Work continues this year to rehabilitate and replace portions of the underground infrastructure, including replacing existing sewers, roads and watermains. The project is expected to be completed this year. 

Bank Street widening: Work will widen a two-kilometre section of Bank Street from two lanes to four lanes south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road. 

Greenfield Avenue, Main Street and Hawthorne Avenue:  The city is renewing aging infrastructure in the northern section of Old Ottawa East, including replacing aging combined sewers and reconstructing roads. 

Renewal of the Airport Parkway Overpass at Uplands Drive: The work will include replacement of the asphalt and waterproofing on the bridge deck. The work started in April and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025.

Resurfacing on Baseline Road: The city says Baseline Road will be resurfaced from Zena Street to Farlane Boulevard.

Resurfacing Kirkwood Avenue: Work will begin this week to resurface Kirkwood Avenue from Merivale Road to Laperriere Avenue.

Echo Drive and Concord Street: The city says Concord Street North will be closed as part of watermains, sewer and associated road rehabilitation work in the Greenfield-Main-Hawthorne area.

Rural 6 Resurfacing: The following roads will be resurfaced: Klondike Road, Loggers Way, March Valley Road, Rideau Valley Drive, Robertson Road.

Roger Stevens Drive: Work will begin in June/July 2024 and be completed by the fall for roadway surfacing on Roger Stevens Drive from Dwyer Hill Road to Malakoff Road and Roger Stevens Drive from Malakoff Road to McCordick Road.

Fallowfield Road: Work will begin in July to resurface Fallowfield Road between Huntley Road and Munster Road.

Conroy Road: Work is underway this spring to improve Conroy Road, from Hunt Club Road to Walkley Road.

Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive intersection modification project: The City of Ottawa says work will be completed this spring and summer to modify the intersection of Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive. The work includes a new northbound cycle track, extension of the length of the northbound left-turn lane and resurfacing along Riverside Drive from Hunt Club to the Market Place entrance.