Highway 417 Widening

[rocketphish]

Awe-inspiring for some, irritating for others, Queensway bridge replacement is the first of five
Rochester Street comes next, followed by the bridges at Percy Street, Bronson Avenue, Preston Street

Taylor Blewett, Ottawa Citizen
Aug 13, 2022 • 2 minutes ago • 2 minute read



Awe may not have been everyone’s reaction to the construction feat that required a nearly four-day Queensway closure, but for some Ottawans, there’s no entertainment quite like the complete replacement of a hulking highway bridge.

“It’s not like every day you see an overpass being taken out and … a new one (put) in there,” said 10-year-old Jenson, whose mom preferred not to provide last names. Unfortunately, he and all others who stopped by the construction site Saturday afternoon had missed the most dramatic part of the spectacle — the demolition of the old bridge, and insertion of the new one, moved from a staging area by self-propelled modular transporters. Still, “cool” is how Jenson characterized it.

For his mom May, the appeal is “really to see humans are so small in the universe but able to create, like big things. That’s what’s amazing, it amazes me.”

It wasn’t Bob Birnbaum’s first taste of construction entertainment. He’s had a daily view of the construction of an apartment building across the street from his own. “And that’s fascinating,” he said. “It started with watching them build the crane, which – I’ve never seen a crane built. And just to watch how they build the crane with another crane, and then the guys are walking out there … It was really quite something. It’s been great fun.”

A retired physician, he’d paused his Saturday afternoon bike ride at a public viewing area set up for the bridge swap.

“They told me when I did aptitude tests not to go anywhere near engineering. So that’s why I find this fascinating. I have no idea what they’re doing.”

Painting contractor Dan Joly stopped by on his way home from a job, hoping to see the installation of the bridge he’s watched under construction in its nearby staging area. He’s always been a fan of large machinery, and “I’m in awe of how they can do it so quickly and have it stable in time for traffic,” he said. “I’m really sorry I missed the move though, holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵.”

There’s something sufficiently riveting about highway bridgework that for previous projects, the MTO set up bleachers. In addition to the designated public viewing area just north of the bridge on Booth Street, a livestream of the weekend’s project was also available online.

For those who didn’t get a chance to see the action – or those eagerly anticipating its conclusion – take note that it’s the first of a series of 417 highway rigid-bridge replacements, using the rapid replacement method and full 82-hour highway closures.

Rochester Street comes next (date TBD, according to the project website) followed by the bridges at Percy Street and Bronson Avenue next summer – “I won’t miss that one,” said Joly – and at Preston Street in July 2024.

Closed in both directions between Metcalfe Street and Kirkwood Avenue since 8 p.m. Thursday, Highway 417 is slated to reopen Monday at 6 a.m.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...-bridge-replacement-is-the-first-of-five

[rocketphish]

Sunday @ 11:31pm. Practically done:

[cityguy]

Have they started the extension of the 417 to Renfrew yet?

[rocketphish]

Ottawa HWY 417 Booth St Bridge Replacement Time-lapse

• Video Link

[Mulder]

Originally Posted by feckless

AFAIK the Calabogie interchange is to be completed Dec 2023 and then the widening continues after that...

Ya, likely separate construction contracts - to slip under the $50 million so IO doesn't get involved. lol

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by Mulder

Ya, likely separate construction contracts - to slip under the $50 million so IO doesn't get involved. lol

the cutoff for IO is far higher than that, MTO still does most of it's work through traditional contracts with only the largest programs going to IO Procurement. Probably closer to a $500 million cutoff for IO procurement.

The only MTO projects I know of going the IO route are the 401 widening in Mississauga, 413, Bradford Bypass, 417 extension, and Garden City Skyway projects. Everything else is traditional procurement.

MTO breaks contracts down often to allow smaller companies to bid and increase competition. There are only so many firms who can do $100 million + contracts.

Calabogie itself was likely split off so the province could show early progress on the project before the election. They did the same thing with the Bradford Bypass by bidding out a single bridge overpass early.

[Dengler Avenue]

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229872&page=80 #1595
Just gonna advertise my thread a bit here

[Mulder]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

the cutoff for IO is far higher than that, MTO still does most of it's work through traditional contracts with only the largest programs going to IO Procurement. Probably closer to a $500 million cutoff for IO procurement.

My old firm had the detailed design assignment for 3 structures along a 400 series highway.

It was originally planned as 2 separate construction contracts, 2 bridges in one contract (with grading, highway widening, etc) and 1 interchange in the second contract.

Because the contract for the 2 bridges came out to well over 50 million, MTO opted to for 2 seperate contacts to avoid consultation with IO.

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

MTO breaks contracts down often to allow smaller companies to bid and increase competition. There are only so many firms who can do $100 million + contracts.

Yes, this too.

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Calabogie itself was likely split off so the province could show early progress on the project before the election. They did the same thing with the Bradford Bypass by bidding out a single bridge overpass early.

No, the interchange was always planned as a design/build contract with no associated widening/twinning. There was additional work /detours that need to be completed first. Locha Creek Culvert (at Miller and Anderson). And Miller is going to be reconstructed parrel of 417 twinning to calabogie. This assess has to be provided prior to opening the twinning.

Miller/Anderson will not have an interchange.

[AuxTown]

417 closure, once again, this weekend for the Rochester bridge replacement. Those of you in the know, is this the final closure for this project or is there another bridge to replace still? The narrowing at Parkdale and beyond for the last couple years has resulted in significantly worse congestion coming from the west every morning and I look forward to everything being open again!

[J.OT13]

Not 417 related, but something to fear may one day show up in Ottawa.

Ontario's first diverging diamond interchange opens today. Here's how it works

Ontario's first-ever diverging diamond interchange opens to drivers Monday morning, the Ministry of Transportation confirmed.

The new interchange, located at Glendale Avenue and the Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW) in Niagara, will open to drivers on the morning of Sept. 26.

According to the Ministry of Transportation, the interchange has been installed to reduce gridlock and improve traffic flow for motorists getting on and off the QEW at Glendale Avenue.

It is supposed to accomplish this by reconfiguring traffic lanes to allow for direct access to all four directional highway ramps.

The diverging diamond interchange eliminates the need for motorists to make any left-hand turns when entering or exiting the highway by using a series of interconnected crossover lanes controlled by traffic lights and highway signage.

"A diverging diamond interchange provides easier access and flow for traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians,” the ministry said in a statement to CTV News Toronto earlier this month.

"This interchange design will reduce the number of vehicle conflict points and allow unrestricted access to the QEW."





While diverging diamond interchanges will be new to drivers in Ontario, they have been used in other places, like the U.S., for years. There are currently two diverging diamond interchanges in Canada, one in Calgary and the other in Regina.

The Ontario government held an in-person public education session to learn "how to navigate" the new interchange.

At that time, an animated drive-through video was released showing how Ontario's interchange works.

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-s-first-diverging-diamond-interchange-opens-monday-1.6083490

• Video Link

[LRTeverywhere]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

417 closure, once again, this weekend for the Rochester bridge replacement. Those of you in the know, is this the final closure for this project or is there another bridge to replace still? The narrowing at Parkdale and beyond for the last couple years has resulted in significantly worse congestion coming from the west every morning and I look forward to everything being open again!

Last one for this year, 3 more to go on the project over the next couple of years, Bronson ramp closure lasts until 2025 I believe.

Then after this project is complete they will start the next project of 7 (technically 14 since the bridges are doubled up) bridge replacements from Kent to Main St.

Then probably like a 20 year gap before they start replacing bridges again

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Not 417 related, but something to fear may one day show up in Ottawa.



• Video Link

MTO is also planning a much larger Diverging Diamond Interchange in Barrie at Mapleview Drive on the 400. As far as I know that's the only officially planned interchange I've seen elsewhere in Ontario.

Honestly I wouldn't mind it becoming the new standard interchange design, it's far cheaper than MTO's standard Parclo A4 and can be basically just as high capacity.

[rocketphish]

Queensway downtown closes both ways this weekend, starting Friday night

Staff Reporter, Ottawa Citizen
Sep 27, 2022 • 11 hours ago • 1 minute read

Queensway travellers should get ready for another weekend shutdown on and around Highway 417.

A five-kilometre section of Highway 417 is set to close in both directions Friday evening and remain closed until Monday morning as crews replace the bridge over Rochester Street.

The City of Ottawa says the closure is expected to result “in significant traffic impacts.”

All eastbound and westbound lanes of Hwy. 417 between Metcalfe Street and Carling Avenue/Kirkwood Avenue will be closed from Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. until Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 6 a.m. for the work.





Some related work has already begun.

Officials said the Hwy. 417 westbound and Rochester Street on-ramp closed Sept. 20, while Rochester Street will be closed from Aberdeen Street to Gladstone Avenue until Oct. 11.

During the construction work, eastbound on-ramps at Maitland, Carling and Parkdale avenues will be closed, while westbound on-ramps at O’Connor Street, Bronson Avenue, Lyon Street, Rochester Street and Parkdale Avenue will be closed. The Bronson Avenue and Lyon Street westbound on-ramps are closed already for construction.

The Rochester Street Bridge replacement was originally scheduled for Aug. 12-14, but work was delayed due to a strike in the construction sector.

In August, Hwy. 417 was closed between Metcalfe and Carling/Kirkwood avenues for 76 hours while crews replaced the Booth Street Bridge.

A construction site livestream has been set up to check out the construction and traffic.

As of Friday morning, you can check it out here:

• Video Link

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...dge-replacement-set-for-sept-30-to-oct-4

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

MTO is also planning a much larger Diverging Diamond Interchange in Barrie at Mapleview Drive on the 400. As far as I know that's the only officially planned interchange I've seen elsewhere in Ontario.

Honestly I wouldn't mind it becoming the new standard interchange design, it's far cheaper than MTO's standard Parclo A4 and can be basically just as high capacity.

Cheaper, safer, and more traffic capacity. They are more confusing for motorists who haven't used them before though. Some might argue that they aren't very good for pedestrians, but I would argue that other types of "freeway" interchanges are just as bad if not worse for pedestrians.

[rocketphish]

The time-lapse of the Rochester Street Bridge relocation project has finally been posted:

• Video Link

[J.OT13]

I hear the Queensway was quite the 🞵🞵🞵🞵-show this morning. I wonder if the media will have stories of how the 417 is an utter failure and how cars never work in winter.

[Dengler Avenue]

By that standard, LRT has failed the winter test too though.
What if companies and the federal government simply show some leeway and allow people to work remotely more often during winter months?
This is Ontario, not California or B.C., after all.

(Meanwhile, due to the same snowstorm, there was a fatal head-on crash on the 17 up at Petawawa.)

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I hear the Queensway was quite the 🞵🞵🞵🞵-show this morning. I wonder if the media will have stories of how the 417 is an utter failure and how cars never work in winter.

I suspect some people forget how to drive when it’s bad weather.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

By that standard, LRT has failed the winter test too though.
What if companies and the federal government simply show some leeway and allow people to work remotely more often during winter months?
This is Ontario, not California or B.C., after all.

(Meanwhile, due to the same snowstorm, there was a fatal head-on crash on the 17 up at Petawawa.)

That's what I was going with. The media and many people in the general population (often people who've never used the train) qualify the Confederation Line as an complete failure anytime something happens. My comment was meant as satire, turning the criticism towards the train around in the direction of the highway and car culture in general.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I hear the Queensway was quite the 🞵🞵🞵🞵-show this morning. I wonder if the media will have stories of how the 417 is an utter failure and how cars never work in winter.

LOL. Agreed! The conversion of the Renfrew Sub to a highway was a failure. We should convert the Queensway back to a railway.