O-Train Line 2/4 [Stage 2 | Greenboro to Limebank/Airport] | In Service

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

It's supposed to open in 2022 with the rest of Trillium Stage 2.

It looks like a great location to not be too disruptive to the current flow of things during construction.

[lrt's friend]

R2 service will replace Trillium Line service for annual maintenance starting Monday, July 15th. Rail service restarts July 22nd but only as far north as Carling Station. North of Carling, service will remain suspended until August 18th, to allow for preparatory construction for the eventual replacement of the Queensway overpass.

Will annual closures continue to be required after Phase 2 opens?

[CityTech]

Probably not required, but I imagine they'll always be tempting. Bustitution is very easy to do in summertime for Line 2, because of how much lower its ridership is and how many more buses are available due to the seasonal reduction in volumes across the entire system. Doing any sort of construction or maintenance work around an active service is more of a pain--it always requires more time, money, or both. So I imagine to save time and money and make the work easier, they just shut down service.

Once Line 2 is extended and starts going to Riverside South, I could see it becoming less practical to bustitute service on summer weekdays, so while they might still be quick to make weekend shutdowns, we'll probably stop seeing whole week or multi-week shutdowns like we do now.

[J.OT13]

Some construction pictures from "Rails of Ottawa" Twitter account:

"An aerial view of the Stage 2 LRT Trillium Line southward expansion construction, just south of Leitrim Rd, so far. You can see that lots of grading+clearing in preparation for ballast and rails has already been completed. #ottLRT"




"West of the Airport Parkway, you can see where lots of brush clearing has been completed.

Don't worry, I was not driving."

https://twitter.com/RailsOfOttawa/status/1151155550106923008

[TransitZilla]

^^ I guess that probably means the Osgoode Pathway is closed, then?

I wonder if the plan is to construct a re-located pathway first, or will the pathway remain closed until rail construction is complete?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

^^ I guess that probably means the Osgoode Pathway is closed, then?

I wonder if the plan is to construct a re-located pathway first, or will the pathway remain closed until rail construction is complete?

I thought the Osgoode Pathway ended at Leitrim. Stage 2 south only crosses to the south side Leitrim and then heads west. I would expect only a minor detour of the pathway would be needed to avoid the construction.

[daud]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I thought the Osgoode Pathway ended at Leitrim. Stage 2 south only crosses to the south side Leitrim and then heads west. I would expect only a minor detour of the pathway would be needed to avoid the construction.

The Osgoode pathway always ended at Leitrim (northbound)-correct. Stage 2 uses a fair bit of the Osgoode Pathway from Leitrim sotuhbound to just south of Earl Armstrong. That whole section is currently closed probably at least until construction is done if not permanently.

[OCCheetos]

The plan includes an MUP along the tracks the entire length of the extension. Presumably, it would allow access to the existing path where the tracks diverge towards Bowesville station.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Some construction pictures from "Rails of Ottawa" Twitter account:



https://twitter.com/RailsOfOttawa/status/1151155550106923008

Originally Posted by roger1818

I thought the Osgoode Pathway ended at Leitrim. Stage 2 south only crosses to the south side Leitrim and then heads west. I would expect only a minor detour of the pathway would be needed to avoid the construction.

The LRT line follows the pathway alignment for about 2km, from Leitrim to just south of Earl Armstrong.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by daud

The Osgoode pathway always ended at Leitrim (northbound)-correct. Stage 2 uses a fair bit of the Osgoode Pathway from Leitrim sotuhbound to just south of Earl Armstrong. That whole section is currently closed probably at least until construction is done if not permanently.

Ahh yes. Earl Armstrong. Brain fart on my end.

Originally Posted by OCCheetos

The plan includes an MUP along the tracks the entire length of the extension. Presumably, it would allow access to the existing path where the tracks diverge towards Bowesville station.

So short term pain for long term gain by having the path extend to South Keys (and beyond)?

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by OCCheetos

The plan includes an MUP along the tracks the entire length of the extension.

But not the Airport spur unfortunately...

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

But not the Airport spur unfortunately...

My guess (and it is just a guess) is that the MUP will be on the east side of the tracks and they don't want to build the infrastructure to allow it to cross the tracks to the Airport spur (which on the west side).

[OCCheetos]

Originally Posted by roger1818

My guess (and it is just a guess) is that the MUP will be on the east side of the tracks and they don't want to build the infrastructure to allow it to cross the tracks to the Airport spur (which on the west side).

Correct.

There is supposed to be an access road between the track split and the airport Parkway, but that's it. No connection to the east side.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

But not the Airport spur unfortunately...

I think the Airport Parkway widening plans call for another MUP to be added to on the west side of the Parkway and the plans are for that MUP to eventually extend to the airport.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

I think the Airport Parkway widening plans call for another MUP to be added to on the west side of the Parkway and the plans are for that MUP to eventually extend to the airport.

I've actually looked at it recently and current plans for Airport parkway widening end at Uplands, so no link to Airport unless something changes.
Also it won't get done until at least 2031.

[PHrenetic]

Good Day.
or not..... SNC-Lavalin is re-organizing......possibly with a view to continuing to sell off 'non-core' assets.

And we are now caught up in it......as I had wondered when I first read reports of their re-org.
SNC has a case of "seller's remorse"....... Is Ottawa going to catch a case of "buyer's remorse" ?
If not now, then somewhere down the line when the construction is complete,
and it converts to a long-term maintenance asset that -really- is just aching to be sold off,
like they are in process of with their share of the 407 ?

https://obj.ca/article/snc-lavalin-complete-ottawa-lrt-work-exiting-major-contracting-business

SNC-Lavalin to complete Ottawa LRT work before exiting major contracting business
Canadian Press, Ottawa Business Journal, Jul 22, 2019 2:52pm EDT

As SNC-Lavalin Group’s new CEO veers away from end-to-end construction projects as part of a sharp change in course, the Montreal-based company has confirmed it will finish out major projects already on its plate – including Ottawa’s Trillium Line extension.

The beleaguered firm said Monday it is quitting the competitive field of fixed-price contracts, which leave companies vulnerable to the cost overruns that large construction projects often generate. It will also combine its resources and infrastructure construction divisions into a separate business line "following continued poor performance," SNC-Lavalin said in a statement.

SNC-Lavalin said that the reorganization will allow it to focus on growth areas of the business, which will be reported under SNCL Engineering Services.

SNC-Lavalin's revised financial guidance for its second-quarter was "due in large part" to cost issues on so-called lump-sum, turnkey contracts, where one company takes on responsibility for the entire project, from engineering through procurement and construction, the company said.

"By exiting such contracting and splitting it off from what is otherwise a healthy and robust business, we are tackling the problem at the source," interim CEO Ian Edwards said.

It will fulfill the contractual obligations of its current lump-sum turnkey projects, which will be reorganized as SNCL Projects, including Montreal's Reseau express metropolitain.

In an email to OBJ, an SNC-Lavalin spokesperson confirmed the company will also complete work on the second phase of Ottawa’s light-rail transit system. The company’s subsidiary TransitNEXT was awarded a $1.6-billion contract in March to extend the north-south Trillium Line to Riverside South and the Ottawa International Airport.

“We are committed to delivering on all our commitments. This includes SNC-Lavalin's work as TransitNEXT on Trillium project in Ottawa,” the company’s spokesperson said.

Edwards, who replaced Neil Bruce as CEO last month, acknowledged what analysts have noted for months. "Lump-sum, turnkey projects have been the root cause of the company's performance issues," Edwards said in a statement.

The Montreal-based firm now expects to lose between $150 million and $175 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the latest quarter, with results slated for release Aug. 1.

The company added that it is "exploring all options" for its resources segment – including selling off its flagging oil and gas business, which is taking on an additional $1.9 billion in impairment charges, SNC said.

SNC shares fell nearly seven per cent to $23.75 in midday trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Quebec's Caisse de depot, SNC's largest investor at nearly 20 per cent, expressed worry over the company's direction and said it "requires decisive and timely action" by the board.

"The deterioration of SNC-Lavalin's performance, as indicated in the company's statement issued today, is a cause of growing concern for la Caisse," it said Monday.

The company slashed its guidance for 2018 twice in three weeks earlier this year, more than halving its profit forecast and halting all bidding on future mining projects amidst a diplomatic feud between Canada and Saudi Arabia – a key source of oil and gas revenue – and delays on its Codelco mining project in Chile, which the state-owned copper company later cancelled at a cost of $350 million to SNC-Lavalin.

NoJoy!

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

I've actually looked at it recently and current plans for Airport parkway widening end at Uplands, so no link to Airport unless something changes.
Also it won't get done until at least 2031.

The section west of Uplands would be built by the Airport itself. They have long term plans to build a new inbound road further north. The existing road would be outbound only, creating a big loop.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by PHrenetic

Good Day.
or not..... SNC-Lavalin is re-organizing......possibly with a view to continuing to sell off 'non-core' assets.

And we are now caught up in it......as I had wondered when I first read reports of their re-org.
SNC has a case of "seller's remorse"....... Is Ottawa going to catch a case of "buyer's remorse" ?
If not now, then somewhere down the line when the construction is complete,
and it converts to a long-term maintenance asset that -really- is just aching to be sold off,
like they are in process of with their share of the 407 ?

https://obj.ca/article/snc-lavalin-complete-ottawa-lrt-work-exiting-major-contracting-business

SNC-Lavalin to complete Ottawa LRT work before exiting major contracting business
Canadian Press, Ottawa Business Journal, Jul 22, 2019 2:52pm EDT



NoJoy!

Strange. Isn't this what they do, build major infrastructure projects? Canada Line, the REM, Confederation, Trillium? That could explain why their Stage 2 Trillium bid for the capital work was higher than the estimate and maintenance lower. After building the line, they might cash-out and run.

[613Steve]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Strange. Isn't this what they do, build major infrastructure projects? Canada Line, the REM, Confederation, Trillium? That could explain why their Stage 2 Trillium bid for the capital work was higher than the estimate and maintenance lower. After building the line, they might cash-out and run.

Canada Line, REM, and Confederation are all P3s which they seem to still be on board for.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by 613Steve

Canada Line, REM, and Confederation are all P3s which they seem to still be on board for.

Good Day.

yep...P3 indeed, and that is exactly what they said they are exiting after completing the construction of these projects.
IE: what of the post-construction long-term maintenance ? My estimate - sold off.