Albert/Slater-Mackenzie King Improvement Project

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

These are the current plans. They could use it for some kind of monument in the future I guess.

Apparently this is the final design. Not hugely different.

[urbanforest]

Does anyone have the latest drawings for the rest of Slater? Noticed this new light post that was installed 2/3 into the middle of the road. Curious if they’re planning a bike track + parking for the south side and this is just a bulb-out or if this is actually representative of the road diet that Slater is getting. Sure looks odd at the moment.

[LRTeverywhere]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

Does anyone have the latest drawings for the rest of Slater? Noticed this new light post that was installed 2/3 into the middle of the road. Curious if they’re planning a bike track + parking for the south side and this is just a bulb-out or if this is actually representative of the road diet that Slater is getting. Sure looks odd at the moment.

For now thats just a bulb out for the end of the construction area of the current project.

The middle section of Albert and Slater design is still in the works and we should get an update later this year.

[zzptichka]

Nice.
I guess they'll build the intersection, but the street itself will be done with the watermain renewal (in 1-2 years according to the city projects map).

[zzptichka]

https://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/do...p317_dp_en.pdf

I just now noticed the cycletrack will be super narrow - 1.8m. That sucks.

Like they are literally leaving more room for parked car doors buffer - 2.1m vs 1.8m.

I guess we can call it contraflow lane

[urbanforest]

And on top of that…it says existing sidewalk? Seriously? Those sidewalks are tiny, and not pleasant at all squeezed right next to the traffic lane. Hopefully this changes before the final version.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

And on top of that…it says existing sidewalk? Seriously? Those sidewalks are tiny, and not pleasant at all squeezed right next to the traffic lane. Hopefully this changes before the final version.

That's bad. Lose a car lane for only one narrow bike lane.

[SL123]

Trees have been planted along the new Albert/Slater alignment in front of the New Library. the new sidewalk and cycling path are nice.

it feel a lot nicer and safer to walk in that area now, great improvement.

[zzptichka]

Public session in 3 weeks
Good to see they plan to start working on it next year.

Date and time
Thu, Sep 26, 2024, 5pm to 8pm
Albert Street Education Centre, Room 341 (Old Library)
440 Albert Street, Ottawa



The City of Ottawa invites you to attend a Public Information Session – Open House to discuss the proposed infrastructure improvement project in your neighbourhood. Residents can drop in during the hours noted above and review the preliminary design drawings. Representatives from the City, the design consultant and the Ward Councillor’s office will be present to discuss the project, answer any questions and receive comments. There will not be a formal presentation at this open house. Please attend at your leisure.

The City of Ottawa also invites you to review and provide comments on the draft design for this project that will be posted here in the coming weeks. Your feedback can be submitted via the online form(link is external), by email or by phone to the contacts below, between September 26 and October 10, 2024.

The following provides additional information about the project:

What: The project involves watermain replacement, repurposing the existing transit lanes for cycling facilities, and reconstruction of bus stops.

Why: The objective of this project is to rehabilitate underground water infrastructure that is nearing end-of-life, and to provide new east-west cycling corridors consistent with the Transportation Master Plan. With the reduced bus traffic on Albert and Slater streets, the opportunity exists to improve these corridors for other users.

When: The project is currently in preliminary design. Construction is tentatively planned to start late spring 2025 and be completed by fall 2027, pending budget approval.

Where: This project will take place on the following streets:

• Albert Street (from Elgin Street to Bay Street)
• Slater Street (from Bay Street to Elgin Street)
• Metcalfe Street (from Albert Street to Slater Street)
• Kent Street (from Albert Street to Slater Street)

Who: The engineering firm, Stantec Consulting Ltd., has been retained by the City of Ottawa to develop design drawings for this project.

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/publi...f-3be6fad24b2a

[J.OT13]

Good. Hoping for bike lanes and wider sidewalks. Trees please. This could go a long way in making Downtown a more pleasant place to be.

[zzptichka]

2.1m for the parked cars door buffer is too much. Leave 0.5m. Add extra 1m to sidewalk, 0.6m to bike lane.

If we can't have trees, at least add some planters around parking lane.

[LRTeverywhere]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

2.1m for the parked cars door buffer is too much. Leave 0.5m. Add extra 1m to sidewalk, 0.6m to bike lane. If we can't have trees, at least add some planters around parking lane.

Been 5 years since that design was presented, so hopefully has been improved since then.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by LRTeverywhere

Been 5 years since that design was presented, so hopefully has been improved since then.

Fingers crossed, cause that is terrible. Those sidewalks are dangerously narrow.

[Uhuniau]

Downtown Moves, unless you're an OC Transpo bus rider.

[J.OT13]

A downtown reconstruction project is complete. Here’s what the city did​



By Andrea Bennett. City News
Posted Nov 6, 2024 03:58:23 PM.

The City of Ottawa announced it has completed the rehabilitation of underground infrastructure along Albert Street, Queen Street, Slater Street and Bronson Avenue.
With an estimated budget of $47 million, the reconstruction project replaced the existing sewers, roads and water mains and renewed the street right of way, wrote the municipality in a press release.

Improved street features have been designed to provide additional safety, comfort, and mobility for road users, it added, noting remaining work includes minor adjustments and landscaping requirements.

With the goal of improving sewer performance and the reliability of water distribution systems, the city began the rehabilitation of its downtown underground infrastructure in 2019.



According to the City of Ottawa, some improvements made include:

Underground sewer and watermain replacements

• Road construction including all sidewalks, curbs, medians, catch basins, cycle tracks, signalized protected intersections, and paving
• Installation of thermoplastics for bicycle crossings
• New protected intersections

Councillor for Somerset Ward, Ariel Troster, is hosting an event on Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. to celebrate the project’s completion, said the city.

Residents can expect a demonstration of new cycling infrastructure and a brief presentation.

The ride is set to begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Albert Street and Empress Avenue, ending at Tech Wall Park at the corner of Bronson Avenue and Slater Street.

Those interested in participating in the cycling component are asked to contact the councillor’s office to register at [email protected].

Further work in the area will be complete by fall 2025, including the completion of signalized pedestrian and cyclist crossing in front of Ādisōke, the new Ottawa Public Library.

This will happen following the library’s completion of the sidewalk and cycle track on the north side of Albert Street between Commissioner Street and Empress Avenue, said the City of Ottawa.

https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2024/11/0...-the-city-did/

[SL123]

They've really done a good job there. its pedestrian/cyclist friendly and attractive. I have a lot more faith those trees will survive compared to other urban trees in the city that are planted in small concrete hole

[J.OT13]

I like what they've done as well. Far superior than the previous pedestrian hostile design. Far more space efficient as well. I hope the triangle will be reserved for a fountain or monument and not a building. That open space provides nice vistas to the traditional Downtown and towards the library.

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

2.1m for the parked cars door buffer is too much. Leave 0.5m. Add extra 1m to sidewalk, 0.6m to bike lane.

If we can't have trees, at least add some planters around parking lane.

Is that a bike path at grade with the road? And is the 'door buffer' space physically the same level as the bike path? If there aren't curbs between, and its just painted lines, its kinda nice, I think. Its a passing lane for when I'm behind the little old lady taking up the whole bike lane. Its like a lane and a half. Just not in name.

I think the sidewalks will become more pleasant if there's no traffic lane directly adjacent. Not every street needs to be a boulevard, especially not Slater lol

[Spoonsy]

The mid-block connection from across from the Library is incomplete, not that it matters because the bike lane on the Library/Dream side is closed, the alternative is to zag through cranes and concrete trucks or continue through the wrong way on the one-directional south side lane, and the connection through Tech Wall to Laurier bike lane is severed. Pretty lame grand opening

[zzptichka]

Wonder if the new Ford bill will affect this rebuild.