Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[Radster]

I know this is offtopic, but I have a story regarding the VIA idiocy on the double ticket checking, last year, in Toronto. My friend and I were on our way to Union station in a cab, and the cab got stuck in construction traffic, needless to say, we got out of the cab and ran. We ran into the tunnel and arrived 3 minutes prior to departure by the agents at the escalator to the platform. They denied us entry, telling us we are late, that the gate closed. Yet we can clearly see the train still there not moving and departure was now in 2 minutes!!!! We had to wait about 3 hours for the next train, which was a milk run train, arriving in Ottawa 4 hours after the train we (didn't really) missed. This would have NEVER happened in another country. They make train travel seem like air travel, which defeats the whole purpose!

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by Radster

I know this is offtopic, but I have a story regarding the VIA idiocy on the double ticket checking, last year, in Toronto. My friend and I were on our way to Union station in a cab, and the cab got stuck in construction traffic, needless to say, we got out of the cab and ran. We ran into the tunnel and arrived 3 minutes prior to departure by the agents at the escalator to the platform. They denied us entry, telling us we are late, that the gate closed. Yet we can clearly see the train still there not moving and departure was now in 2 minutes!!!! We had to wait about 3 hours for the next train, which was a milk run train, arriving in Ottawa 4 hours after the train we (didn't really) missed. This would have NEVER happened in another country. They make train travel seem like air travel, which defeats the whole purpose!

This problem has also been noted on Amtrak:
http://www.vox.com/2014/3/31/5563600/everything-you-need-to-know-about-boarding-an-amtrak-train

Amtrak’s insane train boarding rules, explained
Updated by Matthew Yglesias on April 6, 2014, 4:30 p.m. ET @mattyglesias [email protected]

1) How do you board a train?

In general, once one knows on which track a train will arrive, one goes to the adjacent platform and waits. When the train arrives, the doors will open and people who need to disembark will get off. Then you go through the open door and hop on the train. This process is seen at train stations around the world, including intercity trains everywhere from Brussels to Shanghai and mass transit trains such as the 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E New York City Subway lines at Penn Station and WMATA's Red Line at Union Station in Washington, DC.

2) How does Amtrak think you board a train?

At smaller stations such as New Haven, New Carrollton, or New Rochelle, Amtrak uses the same boarding procedure used by foreign intercity railroad operators and by commuter rail and mass transit rail systems in the United States.

This makes sense, since that's how one boards a train.

However, at larger stations, Amtrak chooses to ignore 150 years of accumulated human wisdom about boarding trains. So at Boston's South Station, New York's Penn Station, Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, and Washington's Union Station, people wishing to board intercity trains must go through a more elaborate process. You wait for your track to be called and then need to queue up — with each passenger presenting a ticket to an Amtrak staff member before you are allowed onto a platform. This is roughly how one boards an airplane in all countries, but it is not normally how one boards a train.

3) Why is standard boarding procedure different for planes and trains?

Airplanes typically only have one door, which makes single-file queuing unavoidable. What's more, trains typically use either turnstiles at station entrances (for mass transit) or on-board conductor checks (for intercity trains) to verify payment. This makes a ticket inspection queue unnecessary, while the multiple doors factor makes an inspection queue burdensome.

4) Is Amtrak unaware of the differences between planes and trains?

They seem to be aware. As noted, Amtrak employs standard train boarding methods at many stations, offering a clear indication that they are aware that trains have multiple doors. What's more, Amtrak employs conductors who check tickets on trains, indicating that they are aware that there is no need for pre-boarding payment verification. The queuing is limited to a handful of stations that happen to be located in major cities and thus happen to account for a very large share of total boardings.

5) Why does Amtrak think the queuing system is a good idea?

Amtrak officials have represented to me that the ticket check is a necessary security measure. They have not been able to point to a specific legal directive instructing them to employ this method, but they gesture in the direction of airport security procedures.

6) Why would verifying that a passenger has a ticket help prevent a terrorist attack?

Unclear. All of the 9/11 hijackers were bona fide ticketed passengers. Purchasing a train ticket is a trivial task compared to assembling a bomb or obtaining a visa to enter the United States.

7) Couldn't terrorists just board at one of the smaller stations where they don't do ticket checks?

Yes. Even if the ticket checking did have security value, the fact of the matter is that a malefactor could always board the train in Newark or Stamford and evade the system. It inconveniences law-abiding travelers but offers no meaningful impediment to a determined villain.

8) How can I avoid this fiasco at Penn Station?

At New York's Penn Station one can avoid the queuing madness by adopting the following procedure: go to the main waiting room. Observe the escalators located in the middle of the room near the main information board. Descend the escalator.

You will find yourself in a mezzanine area whose primary function is boarding New Jersey Transit commuter trains. Wait by the monitors near the bottom of the escalator and watch for your train's track to be announced. When the track is announced, you will be able to proceed directly from the mezzanine to the appropriate platform without going through the queue or the ticket check.

9) How can I avoid this fiasco at Union Station?

Oftentimes you can't. But if you are on a northbound Amtrak Regional (or sometimes Vermonter) train that originated in Virginia and boards from one of the low platforms, you may be in luck. Note the track number, but instead of proceeding to the assigned gate, go to Gate L. Once passing through the Gate L doors, you'll go upstairs to a small waiting area for Virginia Rail Express commuter trains. That waiting area should contain stairs that descend to the platforms that serve tracks that run through to Virginia. Pick the appropriate staircase, head to your platform, and wait for your train.

10) How can I avoid this fiasco at South Station?

At South Station, it is common for Amtrak trains to dwell on tracks that are adjacent to platforms that also serve MBTA commuter rail trains (see above). In this circumstance, Amtrak will cordon off half the platform to facilitate pointless queueing while allowing free entry to the other half of the platform so the commuter trains can operate like normal trains. Simply stick to the left as if you plan to board the commuter train, and then dart quickly over to the intercity train.

11) How can I avoid this fiasco at 30th Street Station?

Two helpful Philadelphia tips in my inbox, both from readers who prefer to remain anonymous:

The life-hack for avoiding the queue at 30th street station is using the elevator. You need the assistance of an amtrak employee to operate the elevator but I was commuting between NYC and Philadelphia 3 times a semester for my entire college career and they were always willing to take me down. I used this technique at homecoming this year.

And:

The staircase opposite your gate is almost always open and leads to the same track. Go down that, and you beat the line. Sometimes they close it off, so it doesn't always work. But most of the time you are golden!

Great to know!

12) Aren't you going to ruin it for everyone by getting Amtrak to shut the Penn Station trick down?

It is certainly possible that Amtrak is going to ruin it for everyone by shutting down these entry points. But there's another outcome: Amtrak could reconsider the boarding procedure across the board. The personnel currently employed doing pointless ticket checks could be reassigned to work at the ticket or information desks and improve service across the board. Better rail transportation in America is possible, but it will only become a reality if American rail operators adopt best practices.

[Aylmer]

There are two things which have to be done to bring VIA boarding into the 21st century (or even the 20th):

1) Level boarding. It takes so much longer to climb stairs with bags, kids, bad knees, whatever, than to just stride onto a level platform. Montreal has level boarding and I see no reason why Ottawa shouldn't.

2) Direct boarding. It's long, cumbersome, ineffective (you can avoid it by just walking onto the platform from beside the station) and redundant. This could be done tomorrow and it would be a huge improvement in the experience.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

There are two things which have to be done to bring VIA boarding into the 21st century (or even the 20th):

1) Level boarding. It takes so much longer to climb stairs with bags, kids, bad knees, whatever, than to just stride onto a level platform. Montreal has level boarding and I see no reason why Ottawa shouldn't.

2) Direct boarding. It's long, cumbersome, ineffective (you can avoid it by just walking onto the platform from beside the station) and redundant. This could be done tomorrow and it would be a huge improvement in the experience.

Funnily enough, VIA has direct boarding at Kingston station. It works very well, they're able to stop for only 3 or 4 minutes even during the peak of the student travel crush.

[rocketphish]

LRT contractor, city staff to improve buffer plan for Scott-Albert corridor

By Michael Woods, Ottawa Citizen May 7, 2014 8:00 PM

Residents worried about future bus traffic along the Scott/Albert corridor won a reprieve at city hall on Wednesday, but they say they still hope to reduce the number of buses that will use the route in a couple of years.

About 2,500 OC Transpo buses a day will be detoured onto Scott and Albert streets starting in 2016, while the Transitway between Empress Avenue and Tunney’s Pasture is converted to the Confederation Line light rail project.

Scott Street will be widened between Tunney’s and Bayview Road by about three metres on the north side, and curb lanes in both directions on Scott and Albert streets will be converted to bus-only lanes.

The city’s transportation committee heard impassioned pleas on Wednesday from people worried about the possible effects of the bus traffic on pedestrians, cyclists and nearby residents.

Those opinions were partly in response to the release last week by the Rideau Transit Group — the consortium building the LRT system — of a long-awaited pedestrian and cyclist safety review listing measures such as new pedestrian crossings, improved multi-use pathways for cyclists, and a resurfaced roadway.

But some who spoke on Wednesday criticized the safety report.

David Jeans of Transport Action Canada said he’s concerned the report underestimated the number of pedestrians crossing the detour route, meaning crowds could delay buses and could create pedestrian risks at intersections, and limited east-west pedestrian movement.

The committee passed a motion calling on RTG to include a multi-use pathway along the south side of Albert between Bayview and O-Train within the existing project budget. That could address concerns residents expressed about a proposed north-side pathway being too isolated and unsafe.

There was also a direction that city staff work with RTG to increase the buffer between the sidewalk and bus lane on the south side of Albert Street, and that a barrier be erected to supplement that buffer.

Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes said while the two-and-a-half years will be tough for her residents who live along the route, the sidewalk and the fence along Albert Street will be “absolutely essential.”

“People are used to traffic but they aren’t used to a line of buses for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon,” she said.

The final design of the detour will be presented by city staff at open houses next month, tentatively scheduled for June 9 and 10.

The committee said OC Transpo staff should present the results of their review of suggestions for reducing the number of buses along the detour route at those public meetings.

Holmes said decreasing the number of buses remains the priority. Many of the members of the public who attended on Wednesday agreed with that.

“We believe as many buses as possible have to be diverted off Scott and Albert streets. That’s the most important way of making its safer,” said Cheryl Parrott from the Hintonburg Community Association.

Some nearby residents have decried the plan and urged the city to consider a different option or work with the National Capital Commission to run some of the buses on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway.

Representatives from RTG told committee they were willing to consider suggestions from residents for the final design.

[email protected]

twitter.com/michaelrwoods
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/News/ottawa...fer+plan+Scott+Albert/9816720/story.html

[1overcosc]

Heard from a reliable source today that full on tunneling in the east portal will resume in about 2 weeks or so.

[eltodesukane]

http://www.confederationline.ca/
The Ottawa Confederation Line website is badly designed.
Images too small, maps too small, page too narrow, scrolling windows too small.
And no email or contact to suggest or comment anything.
Design 101 anyone???

[rocketphish]

Construction Summary
Week of May 5



Central Segment

Tunnel

West Portal (Jawbreaker)

• The roadheader continues mining east toward Lyon Street.
• Excavation in drifts* progresses in the full face of the Lyon Station Cavern, and includes tunnel reinforcements and shotcreting.

Central Shaft (Chewrocka)

• Shotcreting and tunnel reinforcements are ongoing as mining progresses in the transition** to the Parliament Station cavern, continuing east toward Bank Street.

East Portal (Crocodile Rouge)

• Tunneling works advance with mining through concrete.
• Mining of the full tunnel face is scheduled to resume mid-May.

For weekly updates on tunnel excavation progress please visit the Roadheader page.

East Segment

Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF)

• Utilities excavation continues.
• Excavation progresses on the MSF building foundation.

Excavation work at the Maintenance and Storage Facility - Les travaux d'excavation à l'installation d'entretien et de remisage progressent

Civic Works

Highway 417 Roadwork – Widening and Structure Rehabilitation

Roadworks

• Boring and sewer work progresses on the north and south side of the highway.
• From St. Laurent Boulevard to Vanier Parkway, drilling of piles, pouring and panel work progresses for the sound wall footings along the south side of the highway, while on the north side grading begins.
• Ramp reconstruction works continue at Vanier Parkway and at St. Laurent ramps.

Sound wall footings work along the south side of the highway - Des travaux progressent sur les fondations du mur antibruit le long du côté sud de l'autoroute

Signage

• The three message signs have been installed; final construction works, including electrical, continue to power the signs.

Structures

• Widening, reconstruction and rehabilitation work of various bridge structures along the highway has progressed visibly.

Hurdman Bridge

• Backfilling work is ongoing on the abutments.
• Pouring of the new deck will begin mid-week on the north side of the structure, as reconstruction progresses.
• Formwork*** continues at the ends of the deck on the south and north sides as rebar installation advances on the north side.

Backfilling work at Hurdman Bridge - Travaux de remblayage au pont Hurdman

St. Laurent Overpass

• Widening and rehabilitation progresses with pouring on the north and south sides of the deck.
• Work occurs on the roadway protection wall on the south side of the structure.

Vanier Parkway Overpass

• Work advances in the staging area, including falsework**** installation which will be followed by girder and new superstructure installations.
• Removals and refacing continue on the abutments as rehabilitation work progresses.

Work continues at Vanier Parkway - Les travaux se poursuivent sur le viaduc de la promenade Vanier

Belfast Road Underpass

• Work progresses in preparation of the bridge replacement, including forming new wing wall and refacing.
• Work on the new retaining wall continues.

Lees Avenue Underpass – work advances in preparation of the rapid bridge replacement.

• Construction of the new bridge components is ongoing in the staging area, including girder installation.
• Forming of the new deck continues.

Lees Avenue staging area deck work continues - Les travaux sur l'aire de rassemblement du tablier de l'avenue Lees se poursuivent

Coventry Pedestrian Footbridge – pier and abutment work progresses in preparation of the superstructure installation scheduled for later this May.

• Extension of the north abutment footing occurs.

Rendering of the Coventry Pedestrian Bridge - Rendu de la passerelle piétonne Coventry

Notes:

* Drifts refer to the sections of the wider cavern station that are excavated in sequence – see example below.
** Transition refers to the area between the running tunnel and the wider station caverns.
*** Formwork refers to a mold in which concrete is poured.
**** Falsework refers to a temporary support structure.

Stay on-track with us and follow our progress by visiting the sections related to each area of construction at the top of this webpage.

Example below illustrates drift excavation in a Cavern


Illustrates drift excavation in a Cavern

[eltodesukane]

So the Coventry Pedestrian Bridge will be covered? Good!
I wonder why the (future?) South Keys Airport Parkway pedestrian bridge will not be covered...

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

So the Coventry Pedestrian Bridge will be covered? Good!
I wonder why the (future?) South Keys Airport Parkway pedestrian bridge will not be covered...

It's likely the MTO that specifies a covered bridge to prevent items from being dropped onto traffic. That bridge looks similar to the bridge in Kanata, which is identical to others in the province (North Bay has one that's the same but smaller). I find them to be a bit too enclosed for my liking, and they often require cameras to prevent graffiti and require additional maintenance (How do you wash the outside windows easily?). An open bridge doesn't have any of these problems, but there is always the chance an idiot will throw a brick through a windshield.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

There are two things which have to be done to bring VIA boarding into the 21st century (or even the 20th):

1) Level boarding. It takes so much longer to climb stairs with bags, kids, bad knees, whatever, than to just stride onto a level platform. Montreal has level boarding and I see no reason why Ottawa shouldn't.

Montreal also has a train station downtown. Montreal is also a city, and Montreal is also in Canada.

[Uhuniau]

My last remaining scintilla of sympathy for the Nattering Nabobs of NIMBYism on the near-west side disappeared months ago.

You snot-faced whining entitled brats will have LRT brought right to your doorstep, and yet you still fling every stereotypical NIMBYist hysterical argument at the TEMPORARY measures which will have to be brought in during construction.

Meanwhile, my neighbourhood will NEVER see real transit, other than crappy bus service (which was further downgraded to satisfy you whining, sniveling jerks in 2008).

Give your heads a shake. No one cares about your imaginary problems.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Catenary

It's likely the MTO that specifies a covered bridge to prevent items from being dropped onto traffic. That bridge looks similar to the bridge in Kanata, which is identical to others in the province (North Bay has one that's the same but smaller). I find them to be a bit too enclosed for my liking, and they often require cameras to prevent graffiti and require additional maintenance (How do you wash the outside windows easily?). An open bridge doesn't have any of these problems, but there is always the chance an idiot will throw a brick through a windshield.

Might be a salt/snow issue too (i.e. to keep it from falling on highway or to not need to run plows over the bridge).

It would be nice if there was a covered link to the lrt and the hotel complex on the other side.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

My last remaining scintilla of sympathy for the Nattering Nabobs of NIMBYism on the near-west side disappeared months ago.

You snot-faced whining entitled brats will have LRT brought right to your doorstep, and yet you still fling every stereotypical NIMBYist hysterical argument at the TEMPORARY measures which will have to be brought in during construction.

Meanwhile, my neighbourhood will NEVER see real transit, other than crappy bus service (which was further downgraded to satisfy you whining, sniveling jerks in 2008).

Give your heads a shake. No one cares about your imaginary problems.

I can only assume you mean the scant-few "2500 buses a day? No way!" crowd?

[rocketphish]

Ottawa council approves infill bylaw, plan for Scott-Albert LRT detour

By Matthew Pearson & Michael Woods, Ottawa Citizen May 14, 2014 3:12 PM


Scott-Albert corridor plan approved

Additional safety measures for the Scott-Albert corridor have been approved in a bid to make the route safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

More than 2,500 OC Transpo buses will be detoured every day onto Scott and Albert streets starting in 2016 while the Transitway is converted to light rail.

Council voted to instruct Rideau Transit Group, the consortium building the LRT, to include a multi-use pathway on the south side of Albert Street.

It also voted to remove the bus lanes on the detour immediately after the LRT starts running, which could alleviate worries that buses would continue to run along the corridor after the LRT opens in 2018.


© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Ot...law+plan+Scott+Albert/9838701/story.html

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

I can only assume you mean the scant-few "2500 buses a day? No way!" crowd?

Yes, those douchenozzles.

If it was me, I'd be 2500 buses a day? HOORAY!!! Especially seeing how OC Transpo keeps cancelling one of the morning runs in my area without bothering to tell anyone, but that's par for the course: cancellation notices are for suburbanites, not people who help routes turn a profit at the farebox.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Yes, those douchenozzles.

If it was me, I'd be 2500 buses a day? HOORAY!!! Especially seeing how OC Transpo keeps cancelling one of the morning runs in my area without bothering to tell anyone, but that's par for the course: cancellation notices are for suburbanites, not people who help routes turn a profit at the farebox.

Okay, they're not douchenozzles.

If I was in their shoes, I'd also be rather miffed at having a non-transitway street (with no noise-reduction and a few feet distance away from people's bedrooms) filled with all those buses, some of which go practically all night.

Having said that however, such is the reality of having to construct LRT where the buses used to go.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Okay, they're not douchenozzles.

Yes, they are. It's a scientific fact.

If I was in their shoes, I'd also be rather miffed at having a non-transitway street (with no noise-reduction and a few feet distance away from people's bedrooms) filled with all those buses, some of which go practically all night.

Boo, hoo.

[rocketphish]

Construction Summary
Week of May 11



Central Segment

Tunnel

West Portal (Jawbreaker)

• The roadheader continues excavating the full face of the Lyon Station Cavern in drifts[i], under Queen Street and Lyon Street.
• Tunnel reinforcements and shotcreting are ongoing in the station cavern.

Central Shaft (Chewrocka)

• Installation of the first umbrella was completed for Parliament Station cavern, as mining progresses in the station cavern.
• The roadheader is now past Bank Street (under Queen Street).

Picture of the Roadheader progressing from central shaft


East Portal (Crocodile Rouge)

• Tunneling works advance as mining continues through concrete.
• Twenty-four hour tunneling recommences as installation of the new initial support occurs to allow mining of the full tunnel face to resume mid-month.

Tunneling works progress at East Portal


East Segment

Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF)

• Utilities excavation continues.
• Excavation progresses on the MSF building foundation.
• Signage and detour notifications have been installed in preparation of the upcoming full closure of Belfast Road scheduled to begin May 20, 2014.

Civic Works

Highway 417 Roadwork, Widening and Structure Rehabilitation

Roadworks

• Boring and sewer work progresses on the north and south side of the highway.
• From St. Laurent Boulevard to Vanier Parkway, drilling of piles, pouring and panel work progresses for the sound wall footings along the south side of the highway, while on the north side grading continues and drilling for the noise wall begins.

Equipment installation for electrical boring


Signage

• The three message signs have been installed; final construction and electrical works to power the signs continue.

Structures

• Widening, reconstruction and rehabilitation of various bridge structures along the highway continues to progress visibly.

Hurdman Bridge

• Preparation for pouring of the new deck occurs on the north side of the structure, as reconstruction advances.
• Formwork[ii] and rebar installation continue at the ends of the deck on the north side of the bridge as formwork and support brackets installation occur on the south side deck.

Hurdman Bridge parapet wall construction advances


St. Laurent Overpass

• Widening and rehabilitation progresses on the south side of the structure with chipping of the deck ends.
• Work continues on the roadway protection wall at the south side of the overpass.
• Shoulder and on-ramp reconstruction advance.

Shoulder reconstruction progresses at St. Laurent overpass


Vanier Parkway Overpass– work advances in preparation of the rapid bridge replacement scheduled for fall 2014.

• Work progresses in the staging area as girder installation begins, which will be followed by installation and forming of the new deck in the next few weeks.
• Reconstruction work on a section of the westbound on-ramp s completed this week, while work on the eastbound on-ramp continues.
• Refacing work continues on the abutments as overpass rehabilitation progresses.

Shoulder reconstruction advances at Vanier Parkway overpass


Belfast Road Underpass– work advances in preparation for conventional demolition of the existing structure and reconstruction of the new bridge.

• Forming of the new wing wall[iii] occurs this week.
• Piling occurs on the new retaining wall as temporary rehabilitation work advances on the existing structure.

Lees Avenue Underpass – work advances in preparation of the rapid bridge replacement.

• Construction of the new bridge components is ongoing in the staging area, including forming of the new deck.

Deck formwork continues at Lees Avenue staging area


Coventry Pedestrian Footbridge– pier and abutment work progresses in preparation of the superstructure installation scheduled for June.

• As work has advanced on the north abutment, extension of the south abutment footing occurs this week.

Structural steel for the Coventry Pedestrian footbridge


Stay on-track with us and follow our progress by visiting the sections related to each area of construction at the top of this webpage.

[i]Drifts refer to the sections of the wider station cavern that are excavated in sequence as per diagram below.
[ii] Formwork refers to a mold in which concrete is poured.
[iii] Wing wall refers to a wall at the abutment of a bridge, extending beyond the bridge to restrain soil to unnatural slopes.

[rocketphish]

Construction Summary
Week of May 18



Central Segment

Tunnel

West Portal (Jawbreaker)

• The roadheader continues excavating the full face of the Lyon Station Cavern in drifts[i], under Queen Street and Lyon Street.
• Drilling of the support umbrella and shotcreting begins.

Central Shaft (Chewrocka)

• Installation of the second umbrella of Parliament Station cavern begins this week, which will be followed by excavation and return east to complete excavating the bottom, refered to as the bench. Once bench is mined, the mud slab will be poured. These activities will be ongoing for the coming weeks.

Drilling the umbrella (entry from Central Shaft)


East Portal (Crocodile Rouge)

• Installation of the second support has been completed.
• Twenty-four hour tunneling continues in the full tunnel face.

For weekly updates on tunnel excavation progress please visit the Roadheader page.

East Segment

Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF)

Construction activities ramp up at the MSF as long-term closure of Belfast Road south of Tremblay to Trainyards Drive begins.

• Utilities and storm sewer work continues.
• Excavation progresses on the MSF building foundation.
• Mobilization of equipment, installation of trailers, fencing, decommissioning of utilities and stripping of asphalt will begin this week.

Pouring of foundation walls at the MSF


Civic Works

Highway 417 Roadwork, Widening and Structure Rehabilitation

Roadworks

• Boring and sewer work progresses on the north and south side of the highway.
• From St. Laurent Boulevard to Vanier Parkway, drilling of piles, pouring and panel work progresses for the sound wall footings along the south side of the highway. On the north side grading continues and drilling for the noise wall begins.
• Roadway construction continues and includes excavation, grading, casting of concrete barrier walls and paving along the north and south sides of Highway 417 from St. Laurent Boulevard to Nicholas Street.
• Installation of high mast light poles occurs.

Casting in place of concrete barrier walls along south side of Highway 417


Preparation to pour pole base for luminaires along south side of highway


Signage

• The three message signs have been installed; final construction and electrical works to power the signs is ongoing.

Structures

Widening, reconstruction and rehabilitation of various bridge structures along the highway continues to progress visibly.

Hurdman Bridge

• Pouring of the new deck occurs on the north side of the structure as reconstruction advances.
• Installation of rebar and rails continue on the south side deck.

Hurdman Bridge pouring of north deck


St. Laurent Overpass

• Widening and rehabilitation on the south side of the structure progresses with chipping of the deck ends.
• Abutment work continues and includes backfilling and pouring of ballast wall[ii].
• Work continues on the roadway protection wall at the south side of the overpass.
• Shoulder and on-ramp reconstruction are ongoing.

Chipping of deck ends continues at St. Laurent Boulevard overpass


Chipping of deck ends continues at St. Laurent Boulevard overpass


Vanier Parkway Overpass– work advances in preparation of the rapid bridge replacement scheduled for fall 2014.

• Work progresses in the staging area as girder installation continues. Installation and forming[iii] of the new deck will follow in the next few weeks.
• Overnight roadwork continues on the on-ramps.
• Forming and concrete pouring for wing walls[iv] occurs this week.

Grading operations continue at the Vanier Parkway N-E on-ramp


Belfast Road Underpass– work advances in preparation for conventional demolition of the existing structure and reconstruction of the new bridge.

• Forming of the parapet wall[v] begins.
• Piling continues for the retaining wall as temporary rehabilitation work advances on the existing structure.
• Variable message signs indicating upcoming closure on Belfast Road, north of Tremblay Road to Coventry Road, have been installed and will powered this week.

Lees Avenue Underpass – work visibly progresses in the staging area in preparation of the rapid bridge replacement.

• Construction of the new bridge components is ongoing in the staging area, including forming of temporary footings for the existing structure.
• Rebar installation occurs on the new bridge deck.
• Preparatory work continues in advance of existing structure removal by rapid removal during a two-day period on June 21 and 22, 2014.

Rebar installation on new deck at Lees Avenue staging area

Coventry Pedestrian Footbridge – pier and abutment work progresses in preparation of the superstructure installation.

• Work has advanced on the north abutment, extension of the south abutment footing occurs this week, and includes forming as well as pouring of south side abutment walls.

Stay on-track with us and follow our progress by visiting the sections related to each area of construction at the top of this webpage.

[i]Drifts refer to the sections of the wider station cavern that are excavated in sequence as per diagram below.
[ii] Ballast wall refers to a wall built on the top of an abutment
[iii] Formwork refers to a mold in which concrete is poured.
[iv] Wing wall refers to a wall at the abutment of a bridge, extending beyond the bridge to restrain soil to unnatural slopes.
[v] Parapet wall refers to a protective barrier on the side of a bridge.