Confederation Line (Stage 1) | In Service 1.0

[rocketphish]

Construction Update
Week of January 23

Construction advances throughout the 12.5-kilometre alignment. In the central segment, concrete work ramps up at the Lyon west and Rideau east integrated station entrances, and in the east segment foundation work begins to be visible at Lees Station. In the last section of running tunnel east of Parliament Station, crews begin mining the bench.

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Progress at Pimisi Station, including concrete work

West Stations

Tunney’s Pasture Station
Foundation construction continues at the station and includes work on walls and footings. Rock anchor drilling is completed this week.

Bayview Station
Crews pour grade beams, waterproof and continue underground mechanical and electrical work at the station. Construction of the ancillary building walls also occurs.

Pimisi Station
Construction progresses at the station with concrete work for the elevator walls and grade beams.

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Formwork and concrete wall pours-Rideau Station

Central Stations

Lyon Station cavern
Architectural work continues to advance at the station, including concrete pours, rebar and formwork for the mechanical rooms. Work on the elevator shafts also occurs this week. Work includes masonry installation, reinforcing and curbs. In the west transition, crews begin working on duct banks, moving east toward Parliament Station, and continue final shotcrete lining.

Lyon Station west entrance
Concrete work ramps up at the entrance with ongoing wall and stair pours this week. Crews also install rebar on walls in the area between escalators. At the east vent shaft, wire saw cutting is ongoing through mid-February.

Lyon Station east entrance
Crews mobilize to begin suspended slab work in the retail concourse area in addition to stair and escalator slab concrete pours and electrical work. Wire saw cutting is ongoing at the HVAC shaft, for an anticipated breakthrough from the HVAC shaft to the tunnel in February.

Parliament Station cavern
Construction of the station continues to progress; crews install rebar and formwork on the columns and decks, followed by concrete pours. Final arch concrete lining pours are also ongoing. Starter walls continue and mud slab work is finalized in the running tunnel.

Parliament Station east entrance
Crews start excavating rock this week as part of entrance construction. At the east vent shaft, rock removals continue

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Excavation and progress at Rideau Station west entrance

Rideau Station cavern
The next phase of arch concrete lining work occurs and wall pours continue in the station cavern.

Rideau Station west entrance
The integrated entrance continues to take shape with 24/7 construction through end of February. Work includes completing excavation, pouring raft slabs and installing rebar on walls. Hoe ramming, rock excavation and waterproofing take place at the HVAC shaft.

Rideau Station east entrance
The integrated entrance continues to take shape with crews installing rebar for station and elevator walls, waterproofing and removing whaler beams.

Rideau Street is now open to bus traffic and taxis.

uOttawa Station
Crews continue installing rebar, as part of concrete work for station footings and walls, as well as masonry. Backfilling and rough-ins also occur.

East Portal
Ramp renewal work is ongoing with crews installing rebar, forming walls and waterproofing.

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Lees Station foundation and knee wall work continues

East Stations

Lees Station
Station construction continues this week and includes installation of duct banks, as well as rebar and formwork as part of station foundation work and construction of stairs.

Hurdman Station
Progress is visible at the station as crews pour concrete for the stairs and begin the next phase of electrical work at the station. Other activities include roofing, waterproofing of exterior and interior walls of the ancillary buildings and the installation of structural steel. At the bus operators’ building, finishing work for the windows and doors and the installation of porcelain panels occur.

Tremblay Station
Crews continue working on roofing and the soffit, and begin the next phase of activities in the secondary rooms. Construction of the elevators progresses.

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Progress at Cyrville Station, including installation of panels

St-Laurent Station
The station continues to take shape; activities include the next phase of concrete work at the mezzanine level, and ongoing work on the station’s head house and elevators.

Cyrville Station
Construction activities are ongoing and include work on the soffit and elevators as well as the installation of porcelain and composite panels.

Blair Station
Crews install composite and porcelain panels in addition to tiles in the lower concourse area, work on the soffit and station stairs. Porcelain panels are installed and work continues on the bus operators’ building’s roof.

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Breakthrough occurred. Preparing to mine bench-west of Rideau Station

Tunnel Excavation and Support

Bench mining occurs in the last remaining section of running tunnel west of Rideau Station. Other running tunnel activities include duct bank work in the west running tunnel and waterproofing east of Parliament Station.

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Trackwork activities on Rideau River bridge

Guideway

Tunney’s Pasture Station to West Portal
Crews begin installing crossover tracks east of Tunney’s Pasture Station, and continue installing cable trays and removing parapets along Bayview Bridge.

Mann Avenue Bridge to Blair Station
Some trackwork activities occur on the guideway at the Rideau River bridge, including dowel work, and the Hurdman Station elevated guideway and vehicle testing is ongoing between Cyrville and Blair stations.

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Upcoming Construction Activities

In the coming weeks, the following construction activities are scheduled to occur:

• Next phase of foundation work at Tunney’s Pasture Station requiring sidewalk realignment.
• Hoe ramming as part of work on the western section of the guideway.
• Pimisi Station structural steel installation.
• Lyon Station west vent shaft work resumes.
• Beginning of trackwork activities including duct bank construction in the west running tunnel.
• Activities at the Parliament Station west entrance resume with architectural work for the parapets
• Ongoing overnight work at the Rideau Station west and east entrances, and at the East Portal.
• Structural steel delivery and installation at uOttawa Station requiring overnight lane restrictions.
• Demolition of the abutments at the Mann Avenue bridge requiring full closures and overnight bracket installations requiring lane restrictions.
• Ongoing Mann Avenue bridge reconstruction work through end of 2017.
• Structural steel installation at Lees Station.
• Fencing installation on guideway just west of Tremblay Station.
• Installation of the next phase of structural steel at Tremblay Station.

Overhead Catenary System energized in phases for ongoing vehicle testing from Belfast Yard and Blair Station.

http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/news/construction-update-108/

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I was walking around downtown last night and noticed how the corner of Rideau and Colonel By has been tidied up a bit. Much of the hoarding is gone and it almost looks like you can walk right into the LRT station doors.

That's a station entrance?

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

That's a station entrance?

Yes.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

That's a station entrance?

Originally Posted by gjhall

Yes.

Will there be doors to let you go directly from the station into the Rideau Centre, or will you have to go outside first?

[Vanier]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Will there be doors to let you go directly from the station into the Rideau Centre, or will you have to go outside first?

There are escalators to the station from within the Rideau Centre located next to the escalators next to Shoppers Drug Mart. It is currently hoarded (walled in). There is also an elevator, as I was told, and that is located across from Tim Horton's which is also hoarded.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Will there be doors to let you go directly from the station into the Rideau Centre, or will you have to go outside first?

Rideau Station will have three access points. One entrance inside the Rideau Centre on Level 1 (next to the LCBO), one at this spot, and a third next to the Highlander Pub on the north side of Rideau Street.

[AndyMEng]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Rideau Station will have three access points. One entrance inside the Rideau Centre on Level 1 (next to the LCBO), one at this spot, and a third next to the Highlander Pub on the north side of Rideau Street.

I think the doors on the left will descend one floor (to the old food court level) before meeting with the regular 1st level hallway, adjacent to the LCBO/Shoppers. (I think Shoppers will have two entrances as well, the current entrance, and the new entrance opening to the intersection between level 1 and the street escalators.) Then everyone can converge and descend down to the station retail concourse.

[Kitchissippi]

A bit of a departure from the rendering, though. The extra brown bit is (thankfully) not there, and what's shown as glass above the door is actually stainless steel. Not as airy looking as the rendering.

[rocketphish]

Construction Update
Week of January 30

This week, crews begin concrete cable bank work in the west running tunnel, which will be followed by trackwork activities in the next months. Construction also progresses at the integrated entrances, including the Lyon Station east entrance, where crews mobilize to install structural steel by crane.

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Tunney's Pasture: working on footings

West Stations

Tunney’s Pasture Station: The station continues to take shape with crews installing rebar and formwork for the stairs, followed by concrete pours in cycles, and preparations begin to install grade beams for station footings.

Bayview Station: Construction progresses at the station and includes the next phase of foundation grade beam installation, waterproofing activities for the ancillary building and underground mechanical and electrical work.

Pimisi Station: Crews ramp up work at the east end of the station under Booth Street bridge with concrete pours for the elevator and station walls. Mechanical and electrical work and concrete pours for the track slab also occur this week.

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Rideau Station concrete work

Lyon Station cavern: The station continues to progress with ongoing masonry and block wall construction on the concourse level as part of architectural work, in addition to the installation of duct banks. Final shotcrete lining advances in the west transition.

Lyon Station west entrance: The integrated entrance continues to take shape with ongoing concrete work including the installation of rebar on the upper escalator and stairs area, and forming of walls over the adit. At the east vent shaft, wire saw cutting and the next phase of concrete removals occur.

Lyon Station east entrance: Structural steel installation begins by crane at the entrance and concrete work, which includes the lower stairs and escalator slab areas, continues to progress. Crews mobilize to begin a breakthrough of the HVAC to the tunnel below by end of the week.

Parliament Station cavern: Crews continue installing electrical conduits, pouring the final arch concrete lining, pouring the cavern deck and placing rebar as part of concrete work for the elevator walls.

Parliament Station east entrance: Integrated entrance construction is ongoing and includes rock removal in anticipation of a breakthrough to the tunnel. At the east vent shaft, crews remove shotcrete.

Rideau Station cavern: Crews continue pouring concrete for walls and the arch in addition to installing bulkheads.

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Final rock removals at the Rideau HVAC shaft

Rideau Station west entrance: This week, construction continues 24/7 with the removal of shoring and the relocation of struts, as well as waterproofing of station walls. At the HVAC shaft, crews complete final rock removals and demobilize to begin waterproofing the shaft.

Rideau Station east entrance: Concrete work is ongoing at the entrance as well as waterproofing and the installation of rebar in the mechanical rooms. Crews also form elevator shaft walls and remove whaler beams in sections.

Rideau Street is now open to bus traffic and taxis.

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uOttawa Station rebar and fromwork for walls

uOttawa Station: The station continues to take shape with ongoing concrete work for the foundation, framing for porcelain panels, the installation of masonry in the communications room, and backfilling and excavation at the south side of the station.

East Portal: Crews continue constructing the ramp; activities include installing tiebacks, waterproofing in sections, as well as rebar and formwork on walls and slabs, followed by concrete pours at the end of the week.

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Lees Station foundation work

East Stations

Lees Station: Station construction advances with the installation of rebar and formwork for the foundation, and underground duct banks for the ancillary building.

Hurdman Station: Crews continue working on the roof of the stations’ ancillary buildings, pouring concrete for the stairs, mechanical and electrical rough-ins and installing structural steel. Interior finishing work is ongoing on the bus operators’ building.

Tremblay Station: The station continues to take shape with roofing construction, work on the elevators, painting and the installation of cable trays in the secondary rooms.

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Hurdman Station construction of stairs

St-Laurent Station: Construction progresses at the station and includes mechanical and electrical work, concrete curb and mezzanine pours and the installation of conduits and door frames.

Cyrville Station: Crews begin working on the windscreen walls, including glazing activities. Work on the station soffit and elevators progresses and porcelain panel installation continues for the auxiliary building.

Blair Station: Construction is ongoing at the station and includes installation of composite panels, steel work for the station’s skylight, as well as work on the soffit and station stairs. The bus operators’ building’s roof continues to take shape.

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Bench mining in running tunnel west of Rideau Station

Tunnel Excavation and Support

Excavation of the bench is ongoing in the last section of running tunnel west of Rideau Station. Crews also install rebar and waterproof the tunnel arch and pour starter walls east of Parliament Station.

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Cable bank concrete work in west running tunnel

Guideway

Crews continue working along the guideway, weather permitting. This includes assembling crossover tracks east of Tunney’s Pasture Station, removing parapets along Bayview Bridge, and drilling dowels and starting cable bank concrete work in the west running tunnel from the West Portal moving west to Lyon Station. Train testing also occurs in phases between Cyrville and Blair stations.

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Upcoming Construction Activities

In the coming weeks, the following construction activities are scheduled to occur:

• Next phase of foundation work at Tunney’s Pasture Station requiring sidewalk realignment.
• Hoe ramming as part of work on the western section of the guideway.
• Pimisi Station structural steel installation.
• Lyon Station west vent shaft work resumes.
• Activities at the Parliament Station west entrance resume with architectural work for the parapets.
• Ongoing overnight work at the Rideau Station west and east entrances, and at the East Portal.
• Structural steel installation at uOttawa Station requiring overnight lane restrictions.
• Demolition of the abutments at the Mann Avenue bridge requiring full closures and overnight bracket installations requiring lane restrictions.
• Ongoing Mann Avenue bridge reconstruction work through end of 2017.
• Structural steel installation at Lees Station.
• Fencing installation on the guideway just west of Tremblay Station.
• Installation of the next phase of structural steel at Tremblay Station.
• Overhead Catenary System energized in phases for ongoing vehicle testing from Belfast Yard and Blair Station.

http://www.ligneconfederationline.ca/construction/construction-update-109/

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

A bit of a departure from the rendering, though. The extra brown bit is (thankfully) not there, and what's shown as glass above the door is actually stainless steel. Not as airy looking as the rendering.

The white panels in the doors will likely become glass once the station opens in 2018 (it's probably a film to protect the glass and prevent people from seeing in). Once that happens, it should open things up quite a bit.

I can't say why the glass above the doors was replaced with stainless steel, but my guess is there were engineering considerations that made glass unfeasible.

I'll be curious how many people use these doors on a typical day. That intersection isn't very pedestrian friendly and there aren't a lot of businesses nearby, so I suspect both the mall and east entrances will be more heavily used. It is a good option to have though.

[Kitchissippi]

Without a doubt the doors will be glass, I was giving a subliminal poke at how the architects were waxing poetic about how the undulating rooflines and continuous ceilings folding into walls will visually and intuitively lead people where to go. The transparency of some surfaces was key to that visual trick, so that got blown out along with the window

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I'll be curious how many people use these doors on a typical day. That intersection isn't very pedestrian friendly and there aren't a lot of businesses nearby, so I suspect both the mall and east entrances will be more heavily used. It is a good option to have though.

This would be the main entrance for anyone coming from the canal/colonel by and anyone coming from the confederation square area (NAC etc.) and anyone coming from Sussex or mackenzie.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by acottawa

This would be the main entrance for anyone coming from the canal/colonel by

I agree, it would be best for those from the Canal. As for Colonel By, what attractions are there on it that people will be coming from? The Weston and Shaw Centre are attached to the Rideau Centre, so I would think they would just cut through that rather than go outside.

and anyone coming from the confederation square area (NAC etc.)

For the NAC, I would think most would rather walk to Parliament Station East. Maybe a bit further, but a nicer walk.

and anyone coming from Sussex or mackenzie.

Once again, not a lot of attractions other than Major Hill park maybe. I'm not saying it won't be useful, just that I suspect it will be the least used of the 3.

For those who do use it, it would have been nice if they had tunnelled under Colonel By and connected to the existing pedestrian underpass.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by roger1818

For the NAC, I would think most would rather walk to Parliament Station East. Maybe a bit further, but a nicer walk.

Everyone has their own definition of nice of course, but I would rather walk along the escarpment, past the senate, and cross one narrow street instead of crossing 6 lanes of Elgin, then walk past the back entrances of a bunch of buildings, cross Metcalfe, back entrance of a bunch of buildings, then cross O'Connor.

[Kitchissippi]

That access point also leads to the quickest and most direct route to the Westin and Shaw Centre. Going through the mall is circuitous and involves going up and down levels to reach the reception areas. The sidewalks on Colonel By just need to be improved.

There is going to be a huge opportunity in redeveloping the Chapters property, and when they do I hope it results in extending access to the corner of Sussex and George. Judging by the currently open hole where the turning landing will be, it shouldn't be too difficult to re-excavate where the sinkhole was and extend that space right across the street. With the amount of concrete that's been dumped there it's like having a large footing already in place.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Everyone has their own definition of nice of course, but I would rather walk along the escarpment, past the senate, and cross one narrow street

I guess it also depends on the season. In the spring and fall, the escarpment (as you call it) can be quite nice. In winter, it can be cold and dreary with little shelter from the wind. Daytime during the summer, it can be scorching with little shade. My main concern was getting away from all the traffic along that stretch. By senate I assume you mean the Government Conference Centre. The senate is in Centre Block, so that would be quite the detour.

instead of crossing 6 lanes of Elgin, then walk past the back entrances of a bunch of buildings, cross Metcalfe, back entrance of a bunch of buildings, then cross O'Connor.

I believe Queen Street is being beautified for the opening of LRT, so don't judge what you see now with what it will be like. Alternately you could detour to Sparks street, which is certainly a nice route in any season.

Either way, I doubt if patrons of the NAC (or at least The Phantom of the Opera )* will be a significant percentage of LRT riders.

* Bonus points if you catch my very obscure joke.

[McC]

Originally Posted by roger1818

By senate I assume you mean the Government Conference Centre. The senate is in Centre Block, so that would be quite the detour.

Union Station is going to be the Senate once (or very soon after) the metro opens, and for the next decade:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/renovation-old-ottawa-train-station-1.3656605

Originally Posted by roger1818

I believe Queen Street is being beautified for the opening of LRT, so don't judge what you see now with what it will be like.

Unfortunately that block of Queen won't be improved beyond last year's re-paving till sometime in the future:
http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-a...astructure-projects/roadwork/under-way-7

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by McC

Union Station is going to be the Senate once (or very soon after) the metro opens, and for the next decade:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/renovation-old-ottawa-train-station-1.3656605

It will temporarily house the Senate (even if it is for a decade) while renovations are done to the real Senate chamber. After that it will return to being a Government Conference Centre, so I wouldn't call it "The Senate."

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I believe Queen Street is being beautified for the opening of LRT, so don't judge what you see now with what it will be like.

To the extent that temporarily-pretty pavers are "beautification", yes, but the real aesthetic problem with Queen is with the hideous building fronts along most of it. All the impractical (and dangerous) pavers in the world won't fix that kind of ugly, but for some reason it's all that Ottawa ever tries.

[AndyMEng]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

To the extent that temporarily-pretty pavers are "beautification", yes, but the real aesthetic problem with Queen is with the hideous building fronts along most of it. All the impractical (and dangerous) pavers in the world won't fix that kind of ugly, but for some reason it's all that Ottawa ever tries.

For once, I agree with Uhuniau... ;P

I can't believe all those pavers went in, with the widest sidewalks anywhere, and ZERO trees to be seen. Trees go a long way, especially with sidewalks for days.