Ottawa's 3 km LRT tunnel in west-end near completion
The new O-Train Parkway Tunnel is now 85 per cent complete, as construction continues on the western extension of the Confederation Line from Tunney's Pasture to Moodie Drive.
"There are sections of the tunnel that are complete, sections where it's not complete, so we'll see it in progress, and sections where track work has just started," Jocelyne Daigle, construction manager of the rail construction project, told reporters on Friday.
The city took reporters on a tour of the cut-and-cover tunnel that runs three kilometres between Dominion Station and Lincoln Fields Station. The tunnel will travel underneath the Kichi Zìbì Mìkan and Byron Linear Park.
OC Transpo says work continues on the tunnel, noting construction crews and equipment will be working overnight in the Parkway/Byron Tunnel.
“Cut-and-cover tunnel structures (concrete tunnel floor, walls, and roof) along Kichi Zìbì Mìkan Parkway will be completed this year, along with tunnel backfill operations,” the transit service says on its website.
Construction on the western extension of LRT is delayed at least 17 months and won't be completed until late 2026. The line will run west from Tunney's Pasture to Algonquin College and Bayshore Mall/Moodie Drive.
"Structure work should be done in the Parkway Tunnel by summer of this year. Next step is the track works, which we are starting now. Track works we should be completing in the spring of next year," Daigle said.
"(The) next big milestone for us is the system work; so the OCS works, the catenary works – those should be done by the end of 2025. We are hoping into 2026 to be able to start our train testing."
The work may include excavation, hauling, installation-of-form work, concrete pouring, utility installation, fuelling, equipment maintenance and servicing and site housekeeping. OC Transpo notes that pile drilling, rock breaking and vacuum truck excavation are not permitted at night; however, a noise by-law exemption has been obtained to complete the project.
Night work is expected Monday to Saturday from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Sundays and statutory holidays. Work will occur, as required, through June 2024.
While the construction is expected to be complete this year, the City of Ottawa is looking at seeing riders on the train in 2027.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Leah Larocque
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
'Oh, there you go': Tyler Black, son of veteran broadcaster Rod Black, has memorable Major League Baseball debut
Canadian baseball player Tyler Black made a major splash in his first-ever big league game for the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Groundbreaking American guitarist Duane Eddy dies age 86
Guitarist Duane Eddy, best known for twangy riffs on hits such as 'Rebel Rouser' and 'Cannonball,' has died at the age of 86.
Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked like
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.
Weight-loss drug Wegovy available in Canada starting May 6
The makers of Ozempic say their weight-loss drug Wegovy will be available to patients in Canada starting Monday.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Ontario man loses $1,500 applying for Nexus cards on social media
The trusted traveller program between Canada and the United States is extremely popular and almost two million Canadians have a Nexus card.