Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[adam-machiavelli]

There shall be no new interchanges between arterial roads. Once you install one, drivers will treat the rest of the road like a freeway and expect transit planners to do the same -case in point: Parkdale at the Ottawa River Parkway.

[Zach6668]

Has there every been any talk of widening the Airport Parkway? Most notably from the point where it shrinks down to 1 lane in each direction at the end of Bronson to the Hunt Club interchange?

That seems to be a pretty popular route for motorists, but definitely can get congested at times, although maybe not quite to the levels that a widening is entirely necessary.

That said, I stay off of the roads during rush hours, so maybe it's worse than I think it is?

There's certainly enough room to widen it, and driving it the other day, it looked like enough room under a couple of the bridges, with minimal work.

[waterloowarrior]

southfacing - river/limebank

[Dado]

The road at the bottom is Balmoral Drive. They've realigned the intersection in typical North American fashion to remove a non-right angle intersection (imagine if London or Paris tried to indulge in this kind of lunacy). That's one of the reasons why we have such poor drivers in North America - they're coddled into not thinking too much by the traffic engineers. Anyway, in so doing they've changed the "default" road one travels on from Riverside to be Limebank rather than River Rd - it now avoids having to make a left turn to get onto Limebank.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by Zach6668

Has there every been any talk of widening the Airport Parkway? Most notably from the point where it shrinks down to 1 lane in each direction at the end of Bronson to the Hunt Club interchange?

There's talk of it from time to time. There was a recent flurry of talk involving Cllr Maria McRae being not too pleased about a proposed widening iirc.

That seems to be a pretty popular route for motorists, but definitely can get congested at times, although maybe not quite to the levels that a widening is entirely necessary.

That said, I stay off of the roads during rush hours, so maybe it's worse than I think it is?

There's certainly enough room to widen it, and driving it the other day, it looked like enough room under a couple of the bridges, with minimal work.

It's being used as a commuter road rather than for its intended purpose as a dedicated airport access road. This started when they put the north side ramps in at Hunt Club (Walkley doesn't have north side ramps - only south side). South of Hunt Club the road is busy at times, but nothing like enough to warrant twinning. The easiest way to return the road to its intended purpose is to remove the north side ramps at Hunt Club, and, if necessary, at Alert/Lester as well.

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by Dado

Surely you must mean northfacing?

The road at the bottom is Balmoral Drive. They've realigned the intersection in typical North American fashion to remove a non-right angle intersection (imagine if London or Paris tried to indulge in this kind of lunacy). That's one of the reasons why we have such poor drivers in North America - they're coddled into not thinking too much by the traffic engineers. Anyway, in so doing they've changed the "default" road one travels on from Riverside to be Limebank rather than River Rd - it now avoids having to make a left turn to get onto Limebank.

yep, Limebank will be the main route into Riverside South because it is much more central to the community (goes right to the community core). River will be the 'scenic' route. I wonder if those using the Strandherd Armstrong bridge will choose River (more direct) or Earl Armstrong -> Limebank (wider?)...

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

yep, Limebank will be the main route into Riverside South because it is much more central to the community (goes right to the community core). River will be the 'scenic' route. I wonder if those using the Strandherd Armstrong bridge will choose River (more direct) or Earl Armstrong -> Limebank (wider?) to get up to Hunt Club

I believe the ultimate plans have Limebank and Earl Armstrong becoming 6-lane major arterials (I would put the speed limits at 80 km/h on both roads with limited access), while River Road will (and should) remain a 2-lane minor arterial road in the ultimate plans (I would have a 60 km/h speed limit at full completion and full access availability). The Strandherd/Earl Armstrong/8th Line corridor should become the main artery across the southern suburbs (like Hunt Club is in the southern urban area).

Earl Armstrong should have bus lanes once at full build-out, which should be converted to general purpose lanes when the LRT is extended southward.

As for a Town Centre, I would build anew south of Earl Armstrong from Limebank to west of Canyon Walk (with Canyon Walk being the core of it), with an LRT station on the northern periphery.

[waterloowarrior]

On that note, I don't think these display boards have been posted yet (Earl Armstrong widening and park and ride)

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/armstrong/oh_en.html

bjectives of these Projects
The City of Ottawa has initiated these projects to serve the significant projected growth in population and employment and resulting travel demand in the Gloucester South Urban Community. The key goals of these projects are to:

Earl Armstrong Rd Widening

• Upgrade Earl Armstrong Road from a 2 lane rural road to a 4 lane urban road with provisions for bicycle and pedestrian traffic both west and east bound;
• Add bus lanes from River Road to the Park & Ride Facility entrance; and,
• Upgrade the intersection with River Road to accommodate the increased movements to and from Earl Armstrong Road with two lanes of traffic in each direction through the intersection, transitioning back to one lane in each direction beyond.

Earl Armstrong Park & Ride

• Develop a Park & Ride facility that is consistent with objectives of the Transportation Master Plan, in that Park & Ride lots be provided at the outer ends of transit lines;
• Provide a Park & Ride facility to encourage multi-modal travel through transit usage; and,
• Provide measures to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle travel within the facility to further encourage multi-modal travel other than the automobile

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

On that note, I don't think these display boards have been posted yet (Earl Armstrong widening and park and ride)

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/armstrong/oh_en.html

bjectives of these Projects
The City of Ottawa has initiated these projects to serve the significant projected growth in population and employment and resulting travel demand in the Gloucester South Urban Community. The key goals of these projects are to:

Earl Armstrong Rd Widening

• Upgrade Earl Armstrong Road from a 2 lane rural road to a 4 lane urban road with provisions for bicycle and pedestrian traffic both west and east bound;
• Add bus lanes from River Road to the Park & Ride Facility entrance; and,
• Upgrade the intersection with River Road to accommodate the increased movements to and from Earl Armstrong Road with two lanes of traffic in each direction through the intersection, transitioning back to one lane in each direction beyond.

Earl Armstrong Park & Ride

• Develop a Park & Ride facility that is consistent with objectives of the Transportation Master Plan, in that Park & Ride lots be provided at the outer ends of transit lines;
• Provide a Park & Ride facility to encourage multi-modal travel through transit usage; and,
• Provide measures to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle travel within the facility to further encourage multi-modal travel other than the automobile

Overall, I like the plan...Riverview seems like it will be a Park & Ride/community station. I think the next station to the east should be the Town Centre for Riverside South. A pedestrian overpass or two may be desirable as well, since this involves a road that I think should be built for an 80 km/h speed limit.

I'd have an off-street bicycle path along Earl Armstrong, with a wider unmarked curb lane (and "Share The Road") signs for on-street and winter operation. After all, I think Strandherd/Earl Armstrong/8th Line should be the main east-west artery of the southern suburbs. If such is not possible, clearly marked bike lanes would be preferable, with extra-long turn lanes for safe bicycle operation.

[lrt's friend]

Isn't it peculiar that we are planning to build the Earl Armstrong Park n Ride and the plans show the future rapid transit station, yet this is actually beyond the planned terminus (at least until 2031)of the current LRT route to Riverside South? Again, the city is taking bits and pieces from the old plan and cobbling them together into something that makes no sense whatsoever. What are you supposed to do? Use this park n ride, and take a bus 1 or 2 stops to the LRT terminus. STUPID. If we are planning our LRT terminus elsewhere, build the Park n Ride lot there. Of course, I expect that is to be the town centre with no Park n Ride lot. It seems to me that LRT is not to be supported by Park n Ride lots as currently planned, making it even more inaccessible for people living in the suburbs. Again, why are we not following Calgary's success?

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Isn't it peculiar that we are planning to build the Earl Armstrong Park n Ride and the plans show the future rapid transit station, yet this is actually beyond the planned terminus (at least until 2031)of the current LRT route to Riverside South? Again, the city is taking bits and pieces from the old plan and cobbling them together into something that makes no sense whatsoever. What are you supposed to do? Use this park n ride, and take a bus 1 or 2 stops to the LRT terminus. STUPID. If we are planning our LRT terminus elsewhere, build the Park n Ride lot there. Of course, I expect that is to be the town centre with no Park n Ride lot. It seems to me that LRT is not to be supported by Park n Ride lots as currently planned, making it even more inaccessible for people living in the suburbs. Again, why are we not following Calgary's success?

Where else are they supposed to build the Park and Ride? All the land available at the existing south end stations are maxed out. Also Calgary has Park and Rides on bus routes (away from the LRT) as well...

I do agree that a corridor needs to be protected, but additional development is needed in Riverside South to warrant an LRT extension.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Where else are they supposed to build the Park and Ride? All the land available at the existing south end stations are maxed out. Also Calgary has Park and Rides on bus routes (away from the LRT) as well...

I do agree that a corridor needs to be protected, but additional development is needed in Riverside South to warrant an LRT extension.

You missed my point. Why would we build a large park n ride lot that is close but not on the proposed LRT line?

I have looked at Calgary Transit's route map. All or almost all Park n Ride lots are either on the C-Train routes or the BRT routes with direct service to downtown. Interesting that our proposed transit plan will have most Park n Ride lots NOT have direct transit service to downtown.

[waterloowarrior]

New funding means long-awaited south-end bridge a go, Ottawa councillor says


BY JAKE RUPERT, THE OTTAWA CITIZENJUNE 5, 2009


OTTAWA — After years of lobbying by south Ottawa residents and politicians, the $105-million Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge project looks like a go.

That’s because Friday, the provincial, federal, and city governments finally announced a funding agreement for the project that will link Riverside South and Barrhaven over the Rideau River.

Veteran Barrhaven Councillor Jan Harder has been working to get the bridge built most of her career, and she said it’s great to finally see that it’s going to be done.

“It’s going to alleviate all kinds of pressure on the roads in these areas,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

Without the bridge, Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches’S ward is actually split into two pieces.

“I’m thrilled with the news that we finally have a funding agreement,” he said.

The bridge was initially going to be built as part of the city’s old light-rail transit plan, but the link between the two suburbs was scrapped by the current city council along with the rest of that project in late 2006. Since then, the city has been trying to get the other two levels of government to commit funding.

The federal government did so, but the provincial government is more focused on funding transit projects. So to get them on board, a complicated deal was worked out that will see the provincial contribution limited to those aspects of the project that truly have a transit component.

Nepean-Carleton Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, who represents the area, said the community demand for the bridge has been overwhelming for years, and he’s glad it’s finally going to be done.

“I’m actually relieved to have this thing resolved,” he said.

The deal means the city will have to pick up the lion’s share of the cost of the project, but it has money put aside for this.

Detailed work on the design of the bridge is under way and should be completed by the end of the year. Approvals also must be obtained by the National Capital Commission and Parks Canada before construction can start.

If all goes according to plan, work on the project could begin next spring, and the bridge could be open in December 2011.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

[waterloowarrior]

Prince of Wales Public Open House # 3

The City of Ottawa is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for the proposed widening of Prince of Wales Drive from Fisher Avenue to Woodroffe Avenue. This project is being undertaken to determine the appropriate modifications required to meet both existing and future transportation needs along the Prince of Wales Drive corridor.

The project is being planned as a Schedule ‘C’ project under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (2000) document and is subject to a federal review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The EA Study will confirm project need and justification, document existing environmental conditions, examine alternatives and potential impacts, and recommend mitigation measures.

The third Public Open House has been arranged to present the Recommended Plan, environmental effects, and proposed mitigation measures, as well as to provide the public and interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the study with the project team.

There is an opportunity at any time during the EA process for interested persons to provide comments. Any comments received pertaining to the study will be collected under the Environmental Assessment Act and, with the exception of personal information, will become part of the public record.

If you are not available to attend the Public Open House and would like to discuss the project, or would like additional information, please direct your comments and questions to:

Valérie Bouillant, P. Eng.
Senior Project Manager
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
Phone: 613-580-2424, ext. 24202
Fax: 613-580-2578
E-mail: [email protected]

Or
Andrew Harkness, P. Eng.
Consultant Project Manager
Morrison Hershfield Limited
2440 Don Reid Drive, Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 1E1
Phone: 613-739-3258
Fax: 613-739-4926
E-mail: [email protected]


Public Open House # 3
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
6 to 9 p.m.
Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Nepean Sportsplex – Hall A
1701 Woodroffe Avenue

and

Thursday, June 18, 2009
6 to 9 p.m.
Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Frank Ryan Catholic Senior Elementary
128 Chesterton Drive

[waterloowarrior]

March Road Reconstruction – Morgan’s Grant Way to North of Old Carp Road

The City of Ottawa has completed the preliminary design of March Road Reconstruction from Morgan’s Grant Way to north of Old Carp Road.
You are invited:
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Old Town Hall
821 March Road, Kanata
(entrance from Klondike Road)

This open house will provide you with an opportunity to review the drawings for the preliminary design work completed to date. The information available for review will include plans presenting:

• Reconstruction of March Road between Morgan’s Grant Way and north of Old Carp Road.
• Construction of Halton Terrace Extension and realignment of Old Carp Road.
• Reconstruction of Klondike Road between Flamborough Way and March Road.
• Proposed construction staging and traffic control.

City staff and members of the consulting team will be available to discuss the project and answer your questions.
For further information and/or to submit comments, please contact:
Steven Stoddard, P.Eng.
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
Design and Construction - Municipal (West)
Infrastructure Services Department
100 Constellation Crescent, 6th Floor
Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 27880 Fax: 613-580-2587
E-mail: [email protected]
Comments on this open house should be submitted by July 5, 2009.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

Prince of Wales Public Open House # 3

The City of Ottawa is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for the proposed widening of Prince of Wales Drive from Fisher Avenue to Woodroffe Avenue. This project is being undertaken to determine the appropriate modifications required to meet both existing and future transportation needs along the Prince of Wales Drive corridor.

The project is being planned as a Schedule ‘C’ project under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (2000) document and is subject to a federal review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The EA Study will confirm project need and justification, document existing environmental conditions, examine alternatives and potential impacts, and recommend mitigation measures.

The third Public Open House has been arranged to present the Recommended Plan, environmental effects, and proposed mitigation measures, as well as to provide the public and interested stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the study with the project team.

There is an opportunity at any time during the EA process for interested persons to provide comments. Any comments received pertaining to the study will be collected under the Environmental Assessment Act and, with the exception of personal information, will become part of the public record.

If you are not available to attend the Public Open House and would like to discuss the project, or would like additional information, please direct your comments and questions to:

Valérie Bouillant, P. Eng.
Senior Project Manager
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West, 4th floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
Phone: 613-580-2424, ext. 24202
Fax: 613-580-2578
E-mail: [email protected]

Or
Andrew Harkness, P. Eng.
Consultant Project Manager
Morrison Hershfield Limited
2440 Don Reid Drive, Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 1E1
Phone: 613-739-3258
Fax: 613-739-4926
E-mail: [email protected]


Public Open House # 3
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
6 to 9 p.m.
Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Nepean Sportsplex – Hall A
1701 Woodroffe Avenue

and

Thursday, June 18, 2009
6 to 9 p.m.
Presentation at 7:30 p.m.
Frank Ryan Catholic Senior Elementary
128 Chesterton Drive

Not a very easy project, as it involves some narrow entrances and replacing an old railway bridge if it were to be widened.

Since it is the original route into Ottawa from the south, I would keep it 2 lanes from Fisher to Merivale as a scenic route into Barrhaven and Manitock, and focus widening on adjacent routes (widen Merivale to 4 lanes and grade-separate the railway line at the same time). After all, Prince of Wales north of Fisher is also mostly 2 lanes.

The section south of Merivale has already been set aside for 4 lanes, so such is not possible there. Such also avoids replacing the railway bridge.

If it were to be widened to 4 lanes, I would keep it undivided with no median to minimize the land and design impacts.

[Richard Eade]

WaterlooWarrior, I don't know if you got the latest notice about the PoW Openhouse:

Cancelled Public Open House (June 16 and 18)
Prince of Wales Drive Environmental Assessment
The public open house sessions for the Prince of Wales Drive Environmental Assessment Study, which were scheduled for June 16 and 18, 2009, will be postponed until the fall in order to further refine the Recommended Plan and, in turn, to best serve the interests of the public.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Valérie Bouillant, P. Eng., Senior Project Manager
City of Ottawa
4th Floor, 110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1J1
Phone: 613-580-2424, ext. 24202
Fax: 613-580-2578
Email: [email protected]

OR

Andrew Harkness, P. Eng., Consultant Project Manager
Morrison Hershfield Limited
2440 Don Reid Drive, Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 1E1
Phone: 613-739-3258
Fax: 613-739-4926
Email: [email protected]

[Dado]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

Not a very easy project, as it involves some narrow entrances and replacing an old railway bridge if it were to be widened.

That bridge requires replacement regardless. The supports are degrading badly and it's too narrow for current standards with bicycle lanes. Moreover, that overpass might get double-tracked as well.

Since it is the original route into Ottawa from the south, I would keep it 2 lanes from Fisher to Merivale as a scenic route into Barrhaven and Manitock, and focus widening on adjacent routes (widen Merivale to 4 lanes and grade-separate the railway line at the same time).

And the point of grade separating the railway is what exactly? That is used almost entirely by VIA. Other than the occasional local delivery, there is no freight moving along there so there's no appreciable delays caused by rail traffic.

[waterloowarrior]

Hazeldean Road funding
http://www.yourstittsville.com/article/14134
Stimulus money is coming

June 15, 2009
BY JOHN CURRY
An expanded, improved Hazeldean Road should be a reality in two years.
The road’s improvement and expansion has received $65 million in funding from the federal, provincial and municipal government shovel-ready stimulus funding program. This is the largest project in terms of funding announced on Friday, June 5 by a bevy of federal, provincial and municipal officials to help stimulate the local economy, create jobs and improve municipal infrastructure. A total of 93 projects were funded, with $125 million coming from each level of government.

This Hazeldean Road upgrading has been on the books for a number of years but while needed, was not going to proceed for several more years due to lack of funding. All of the required environmental assessments for the project were completed several years ago. The project will see Hazeldean Road from Terry Fox Drive in Kanata to the Carp Road in Stittsville reconstructed. It will involve a new bridge over the Carp River and four lanes from Terry Fox Drive to Stittsville Main Street. There will also be provision for the road to be expanded to six lanes from Terry Fox Drive to Iber Road in the future.

Hazeldean Road is under increasing traffic pressure not only because of growth in Stittsville proper but also because of the Fairwinds development in Kanata West and the impending development of the Fernbank lands south of Hazeldean Road between Kanata and Stittsville.

“This is a tremendous boon to our community and a necessary investment as evidenced by the road’s congestion,” said city of Ottawa Stittsville/Kanata West ward councillor Shad Qadri. He notes that it will create the equivalent of about 750 jobs over the course of the two years project.

Projects funding by this tri-partite government shovel-ready stimulus funding program must be completed by March 31, 2011.

“This is a tremendous investment for Stittsville and I am pleased this project has been pushed forward,” said councillor Qadri, noting that the widening and improvement of the road is of critical importance to the community given the current and planned growth, particularly along the Hazeldean Road.

City of Ottawa manager Kent Kirkpatrick has announced that the city will be moving forward immediately with these shovel-ready stimulus funding program projects in the city, including tendering and construction.

Projects were eligible for the shovel-ready stimulus funding program only if they were not included in the city’s regular capital works program this year.

[eternallyme]

That bridge requires replacement regardless. The supports are degrading badly and it's too narrow for current standards with bicycle lanes. Moreover, that overpass might get double-tracked as well.

Unfortunately, that is true. Double-tracking probably isn't necessary unless a commuter line is being implemented there, and IMO that is a long way from being warranted.

Originally Posted by Dado

And the point of grade separating the railway is what exactly? That is used almost entirely by VIA. Other than the occasional local delivery, there is no freight moving along there so there's no appreciable delays caused by rail traffic.

Merivale is a busy arterial road (only going to get busier as the RCMP HQ and other developments move in, plus it will be a major transit route), and VIA trains are moving at high speed through the area.

More for safety than operational issues, especially considering it would involve a 4 lane road (presumably with a 60 km/h speed limit then) as opposed to the current 2 lane road.