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 confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.