Albert/Slater-Mackenzie King Improvement Project

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Wonder if the new Ford bill will affect this rebuild.

Losing bus lanes not car lanes, so should be fine.

[J.OT13]

This has been going on for while, and we're pretty much all aware, but thought I'd post the City page and renderings.

Mackenzie King Bridge Renewal

Project description

The City of Ottawa has identified a requirement for the rehabilitation of portions of Mackenzie King Bridge. The project limits are from Elgin Street to Nicholas Street. The overall purpose of the project is to undertake structural rehabilitation and lifecycle renewal requirements of the bridge structures. The project also includes rearrangement and reconstruction of the surface roadway elements.



Project purpose and background

The Mackenzie King Bridge is a set of four continuous bridge structures that span from Elgin Street to Nicholas Street. The project includes the rehabilitation of three of the four structures. Those are:

• National Arts Centre (NAC) Structure
• Rideau Canal Structure
• Steel Viaduct Structure

The project involves the rehabilitation of the roadway on Mackenzie King Bridge, from Elgin Street to Nicholas Street. The project includes reconstruction of streetscape elements and transportation components within the Mackenzie King Bridge right of way based on the following completed studies:

• A Detailed Condition Assessment and Renewal Options Report was prepared in July 2017.
• The post Light Rail Transit (LRT) repurposing Functional Design Study which included repurposing the bridge deck was completed in January 2019.

Key project aspects:

• Rehabilitation of three (3) connected bridge structures.
• Rehabilitation / replacement of expansion joints, concrete repairs, waterproofing, drainage structures, and other lifecycle renewal requirements.
• Reconstruction of streetscape elements and transportation components.
• Reconfiguration of the roadway from a four-lane road to a two-lane road, with raised cycle tracks and widened sidewalks.
• Public spaces that integrate benches, waste receptacles, bike rings / bike racks, and granite stools.
• Median bike lane improvements near the east project limit, on the west side of the Nicholas Street / Waller Street intersection.
• LED street lighting, waste receptables, bike rings/bike racks, granite stools, accessible wood and granite benches.

Project budget

Approved project funds to date are $24.6 million.

Project timing

Design: completed
Construction: summer 2022
Final completion: end of 2026

Nicholas Street overpass

A separate $5.4 million project is planned for the Nicholas Street overpass and part of the steel viaduct. This work, based on a 2025 condition assessment, is scheduled for design completion in early 2026 and construction in 2026 and 2027. The bridge remains safe and open to the public.

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/publi...d-ef030bae6181

[Richard Eade]

I don’t think that it was too many years ago that the bridge was completely re-water-proofed. (The Google satellite view still shows the work in progress.) Why is that work being redone so soon? That seems like a waste of money. Or was that part of this project?

I do think that the ‘art’ that the rendering shows embedded into the sidewalk widening is better than just concrete. Adding benches might be nice if it doesn’t take up too much of the walking room. The rendering seems to show the benches on the widened portion of the sidewalks.

The timing on that page states “Construction: summer 2022” and “Final completion: end of 2026”. Does that mean that all of those times are shifted by three years? If the road will be shut down for an extended period, would it be possible to advance the Nicholas Overpass, or to delay this project (or its next phase), so that they can be done at the same time, instead of sequentially?

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I don’t think that it was too many years ago that the bridge was completely re-water-proofed. (The Google satellite view still shows the work in progress.) Why is that work being redone so soon? That seems like a waste of money. Or was that part of this project?

I do think that the ‘art’ that the rendering shows embedded into the sidewalk widening is better than just concrete. Adding benches might be nice if it doesn’t take up too much of the walking room. The rendering seems to show the benches on the widened portion of the sidewalks.

The timing on that page states “Construction: summer 2022” and “Final completion: end of 2026”. Does that mean that all of those times are shifted by three years? If the road will be shut down for an extended period, would it be possible to advance the Nicholas Overpass, or to delay this project (or its next phase), so that they can be done at the same time, instead of sequentially?

It's the same project. It started 3 years ago, been going ever since.

[Richard Eade]

Ah . . . Thanks.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I don’t think that it was too many years ago that the bridge was completely re-water-proofed. (The Google satellite view still shows the work in progress.) Why is that work being redone so soon? That seems like a waste of money. Or was that part of this project?

I do think that the ‘art’ that the rendering shows embedded into the sidewalk widening is better than just concrete. Adding benches might be nice if it doesn’t take up too much of the walking room. The rendering seems to show the benches on the widened portion of the sidewalks.

The timing on that page states “Construction: summer 2022” and “Final completion: end of 2026”. Does that mean that all of those times are shifted by three years? If the road will be shut down for an extended period, would it be possible to advance the Nicholas Overpass, or to delay this project (or its next phase), so that they can be done at the same time, instead of sequentially?

I have mixed feelings about the "art". It adds visual interest, but I feel like it will look bad within a year and just adds more uneven surfaces.

The benches where they are add a barrier between the bikes and pedestrians, so we should see less people walking/biking on the wrong side.

Sidewalks today are quite generously wide, so I'm not too worried about benches taking the additional space. The bridge is less used by pedestrians now anyway since it sees far fewer buses, so extra walking capacity isn't needed (unlike Albert and Slater, which always had a alarming lack of space).

[Uhuniau]

> Be the city of Ottawa
> Reduce Rideau Street to one lane in each direction with no ability for buses to go around an obstruction
> Reduce Queen Street to one lane in each direction with no ability for buses to go around an obstruction
> Reduce the Bank Street bridge to one lane in each direction with no ability for buses to go around an obstruction
> Reduce the Mackenzie King bridge to one lane in each direction with no ability for buses to go around an obstruction
> Be unconcerned about the impact on downtown bus operations
> Choose not to believe there even is any impact
> Write downtown Ottawa out of the transportation plan altogether
> DOWNTOWN MOVES

[vtecyo]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

> Be the city of Ottawa
...
> Reduce the Bank Street bridge to one lane in each direction with no ability for buses to go around an obstruction...

Bank Street bridge - over the Canal? It's three lanes total - two northbound and one lane southbound. North and south of the bridge it's still four lanes - and there's plenty of space for buses to pass in those areas.

For me - the bridge has been vastly improved with bike lanes - it feels much safer and more pleasant to cross for pedestrians and cyclists.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by vtecyo

Bank Street bridge - over the Canal? It's three lanes total - two northbound and one lane southbound. North and south of the bridge it's still four lanes - and there's plenty of space for buses to pass in those areas.

The one-lane-southbound thing is often a problem for the 6 and 7.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by vtecyo

Bank Street bridge - over the Canal? It's three lanes total - two northbound and one lane southbound. North and south of the bridge it's still four lanes - and there's plenty of space for buses to pass in those areas.

For me - the bridge has been vastly improved with bike lanes - it feels much safer and more pleasant to cross for pedestrians and cyclists.

We better not have too many events at Lansdowne or traffic comes to a standstill.

[urbanforest]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...tion-1.7578680

Part of Mackenzie King Bridge in 'advanced state of deterioration'
CBC News - Arthur White-Crummey

Part of Mackenzie King Bridge in 'advanced state of deterioration,' city learns

Major components of the Nicholas Street overpass on the east side of the Mackenzie King Bridge are in an "advanced state of deterioration," according to a recent condition assessment.
Ottawa's Mackenzie King Bridge is in worse shape than expected, as the city learns that major components of the section over Nicholas Street are in an "advanced state of deterioration."

That's forcing the city to launch another rehabilitation project, over and above ongoing renewal work that has faced repeated delays.

The city is budgeting $5.4 million for the extra work over Nicholas Street, just east of the Rideau Centre, with the project schedule putting the completion date in the summer of 2027.

—snip—

Sounds like the Nicholas span is going to have to be entirely rebuilt.

[Richard Eade]

I hope that it bothers the Councillors that they can suddenly find out that a major structure is in an "advanced state of deterioration" and in need of emergency treatment. The condition of structures should be better monitored by staff and the conditions put forward for rehabilitation once a structure falls below the Good threshold.

Like Lansdowne and MANY other City assets, this should not be happening. One of the base requirements of the City is to maintain ALL of its assets in a Good State of Repair.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...tion-1.7578680

Sounds like the Nicholas span is going to have to be entirely rebuilt.

That's not great.

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I hope that it bothers the Councillors that they can suddenly find out that a major structure is in an "advanced state of deterioration" and in need of emergency treatment. The condition of structures should be better monitored by staff and the conditions put forward for rehabilitation once a structure falls below the Good threshold.

Like Lansdowne and MANY other City assets, this should not be happening. One of the base requirements of the City is to maintain ALL of its assets in a Good State of Repair.

Agreed. The constant efforts to keep taxes artificially low results in important infrastructure not getting the maintenance needed, hence requiring early replacement, which is far more expensive in the long run.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Agreed. The constant efforts to keep taxes artificially low results in important infrastructure not getting the maintenance needed, hence requiring early replacement, which is far more expensive in the long run.

Drifting off topic, but something is going to have to give when a whole lot of suburban infrastructure that was built in the 50s and 60s starts to life-cycle.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I hope that it bothers the Councillors that they can suddenly find out that a major structure is in an "advanced state of deterioration" and in need of emergency treatment. The condition of structures should be better monitored by staff and the conditions put forward for rehabilitation once a structure falls below the Good threshold.

Like Lansdowne and MANY other City assets, this should not be happening. One of the base requirements of the City is to maintain ALL of its assets in a Good State of Repair.

Especially since they were already planning to fix the other three spans. Unless they had some really good reason to think the last span wouldn’t deteriorate like the others it seems nuts.

[Richard Eade]

And I may be wrong, but it sounds as if staff had the bridge listed as Good up until staff called in consultants who found the span to be in terrible condition. That is, staff had it wrong.

Why do we have city staff that can't do the job properly? Why do we always need to go out to consultants to get any answers? In my opinion, there needs to be a total house-cleaning at City Hall - starting with the Mayor. Maybe the Province can assign a group to come in and do that - like they did for the school board. Watching this city (not) work is so frustrating.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

And I may be wrong, but it sounds as if staff had the bridge listed as Good up until staff called in consultants who found the span to be in terrible condition. That is, staff had it wrong.

Why do we have city staff that can't do the job properly? Why do we always need to go out to consultants to get any answers? In my opinion, there needs to be a total house-cleaning at City Hall - starting with the Mayor. Maybe the Province can assign a group to come in and do that - like they did for the school board. Watching this city (not) work is so frustrating.

Isn't it possible or even likely that the initial assessment of "good" was also done by consultants?

[Richard Eade]

Yup, and it is also possible that the Good estimate was done 15 years ago.

My point is that the City should have competant staff to be able to do a proper job of running the city without the need to always go out to consultants.

I realize that some believe that simply paying consultants for everything reduces the City's long-term obligation to employees (no pension, etc.), but for me, the City needs to have a competant staff that can do the job.

There would, of course, be exceptions for one-offs. There is little benefit in keeping a staff member for a task that will only happen very occasionally. But for things like evaluating the City's assets, which should be done continually, there needs to be competent staff on-site.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Yup, and it is also possible that the Good estimate was done 15 years ago.

My point is that the City should have competant staff to be able to do a proper job of running the city without the need to always go out to consultants.

I realize that some believe that simply paying consultants for everything reduces the City's long-term obligation to employees (no pension, etc.), but for me, the City needs to have a competant staff that can do the job.

There would, of course, be exceptions for one-offs. There is little benefit in keeping a staff member for a task that will only happen very occasionally. But for things like evaluating the City's assets, which should be done continually, there needs to be competent staff on-site.

Yep, completely agree. Over-reliance on consultants is bad for lots of reasons, including cost. For skills that are required over and over, the City should have those in house.

[Richard Eade]

(This might seem out of place, but please bear with me . . .)

CTV News had the following picture on-line this morning:



Two things struck me about it:

1) Has the sign really faded so much? And why hasn’t the City kept it looking vibrant? (OK, I know the answer to the second part – The City DOESN’T DO ANY UPKEEP OF ITS ASSETS, and letting the colours fade perhaps shows a truer representation of how non-vibrant the City regards the By-Ward Market.)

2) And, Is the sign really not accessible? Since it appears to up on a raised platform, those in wheelchairs are less able to interact with the sign. (Although maybe it requires that curb for Snowplow-Protection – since it appears that having someone HAND SHOVEL around monuments and on stairs is beyond the City’s ability.)

Then, of course, there is the old, much discussed, question of whether the City even thought about what would be pictured in the background of every photo taken there. (The answer to that question is, of course, NO.) Maybe, since the City is doing work on the Mackensie-King Bridge, the prop can be moved to the north sidewalk – overlooking the Rideau Canal, with a view of Parliament Hill.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8VRWSVJX1exfRBNP8

Oh, and once the City has done its work rehabilitating the bridge, could we get a fresh coat of paint on those railings, please. (Because I doubt that the state of the railings would have even been looked at when they were having the consultants assess the bridge condition – being out of scope, and all that.)