Nighttime LRT construction derails east-end residents' sleep
Residents of an Orléans neighbourhood are voicing their frustration as overnight work on Stage 2 LRT causes disturbances for those living next to the construction site.
The project includes the expansion of the Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard overpass along highway 174, construction of a train station, and an OC Transpo bus parking station. It has led to complaints of loud noise, shaking houses, and bright lights beaming in through windows at night.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"I think it's a lot of noise that's unnecessary. Most of the time, during the day, they have maybe one or two workers there," says Dave McCarthy, whose backyard fronts the construction project. "Right after supper, at six o'clock, the big light standards come up and then the tractors come out and it's just very, very loud. It sounds like an earthquake. All the dishes are shaking in the China cabinet. Everything you can just see, everything's moving."
Making matters worse, McCarthy says, the construction lights used throughout the night illuminate many homes along Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard and across the street to others as well.
"I went up there at 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. the other day to complain and they said that's what they have to do," he says. "If this was me or any of our other neighbours doing it we would get a ticket."
Just a few houses down, Judy Cheeseman is faced with similar issues, the noise as well as the light, which shines into her en suite bathroom.
"And it seems to get louder at midnight through to 1, 2, 3 a.m. The house shakes, the light shines," she says. "I called bylaw on Tuesday night and an officer came out to the house. He was very nice and pleasant and he said he needed to measure the noise, and then he said they [the construction contractor] had an extension and is good to the end of May."
In a statement to CTV News, the city of Ottawa says it is working closely with contractors to plan construction activities to minimize the disruptions for those nearby.
"At times, work must be completed overnight in order to manage the impact to traffic, maintain project schedule and/or coordinate complex activities. When overnight work is required, a noise bylaw exemption is needed to proceed with the work. The ability to leverage night work, while respecting the neighbourhoods where the project team is working, is a key tool to advance the project."
Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS) added it has issued a noise exemption permit for this construction project, and that construction noise cannot exceed 85 decibels when measure at the point of reception.
"To minimize the impact on residents, the contractor has agreed to implement broadband backup alarms for all movable equipment, and no box shaking/tailgate slamming permitted along this alignment. Should the noise be bothersome, BLRS encourages residents to create a request for service by calling 3-1-1, in order for an officer to investigate."
Khadija Siddiqi, who also backs on to the construction site, says the midnight work is having a severe impact on her son, who has special needs.
"Unfortunately my son's room is in the back and we have two blackout curtains on the window, but it's still bright in his room and his bed is shaking. He's been up the last week up till 2 a.m., and he goes to school in the morning. It's really, really hard for him," says Siddiqi. "It is absolutely unacceptable. We understand that this is needed for our community, but they can absolutely do a better job of finishing the work sooner and not disrupt everybody's sleep at night. They can't say that that it's because of the traffic during the day. They have their own space where they are working so they could be working during the day."
As the construction continues, many in the neighbourhood worry Ottawa's brief summer season of warm weather, backyard barbeques and evening swims will be destroyed.
"They could do a better concentrated effort of having some areas done with lots of people," says McCarthy. "Knowing the city, they're going to be a couple more years and they also plan to build a roundabout in here too, so that's just going to be more stuff. It's just crazy."
The Jeanne d'Arc overpass construction project is slated to run until spring 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump delivers rambling response to his hush money conviction
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Solutions coming for piled-up bodies outside Newfoundland hospital
Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador say they are only weeks away from a solution to move unclaimed human remains out of roadside freezers and into a nearby hospital.
Actor Nick Pasqual charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend
An actor who has appeared in film and TV projects like 'Rebel Moon' and 'How I Met Your Mother' has been arrested and charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend multiple times.
'Unprecedented': Human smuggling from B.C. to U.S. soars, using train, Uber and foot
American prosecutors and law enforcement officers say they're dealing with a huge increase in human smuggling from British Columbia.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Incendiary device thrown at Vancouver synagogue, Jewish Federation says
An incendiary device was thrown at a Vancouver synagogue Thursday night, leading to increased police presence at local institutions, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver says.