Lady Grey Drive Rehabilitation Project [NCC] | U/C

[acottawa]

There seems to be a huge construction project underway at Lady Grey drive. I have no idea what it is.

[LRTeverywhere]

Originally Posted by acottawa

There seems to be a huge construction project underway at Lady Grey drive. I have no idea what it is.

Rehabing the retaining wall, part of it collasped a couple years ago. Next phase will add a multi use path aswell that will connect between the Rideau river and the canal, under Alexandria, not sure of the timeline for that though.

I wanted to get more info on it earlier this week, but the NCC website has now been down for over a week!

[SL123]

Originally Posted by acottawa

There seems to be a huge construction project underway at Lady Grey drive. I have no idea what it is.

Its on the NCC website

https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/lady-grey-drive-retaining-wall-replacement

[rocketphish]

110-year-old retaining wall near Ottawa Rowing Club to be demolished, replaced
NCC says wall partly collapsed in 2020, plans to transform road into pedestrian-friendly promenade

CBC News
Posted: Apr 22, 2023 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago



The National Capital Commission is in the early stages of completely replacing the retaining wall on Lady Grey Drive, which is parallel to Sussex Drive near the shore of the Ottawa River, to ensure its structural integrity.

The wall — built between 1911 and 1913 — supports the roadway above, which the commission (NCC) wants to transform into a pedestrian-friendly, multi-use "promenade," according to a presentation at a meeting of the NCC's board Thursday.

The NCC said a geotechnical study found the best way forward was to completely replace the 600 metre-long wall —part of the wall partially collapsed in 2020 — something described as a "formidable engineering challenge."

The Ottawa Rowing Club, which sits just below Lady Grey Drive along the river shoreline, said the work will affect their next two seasons, but they hope to ultimately benefit from the road's revitalization.

"We'll make it work," said club president Peter Thompson. "The members are used to facing challenges at the shoreline, whether it's wind or waves or traffic or congestion on the docks at five o'clock in the morning. They're a pretty resilient group."

On any given spring day, there could be 100 rowers pushing off from the docks at the club. That number can double in the fall, so there will still be traffic along the road.

Thompson said the NCC, along with the city and federal government, has been working with the club on the project.

"We have a commitment on the part of all three parties to keep a traffic lane open," he said. "So far, it's been a workable arrangement."

Public consultations are underway and the NCC said it has been working with local stakeholders to ensure disruptions are kept to a minimum during the construction phase.

In 2010, the federal government gave the NCC $1.5 million for work on "rehabilitation of a highly deteriorated dry limestone retaining wall."

That project was one of eight that were mentioned at the board's meeting Thursday.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-lady-grey-drive-retaining-wall-ncc-1.6817241

[acottawa]

Why does Lady Grey even exist?

It was built as a scenic route between Parliament and Rideau Hall, but it has been “no exit” for decades. The National Gallery uses it as a delivery entrance, but surely there is a less cumbersome way to get deliveries.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Why does Lady Grey even exist?

It was built as a scenic route between Parliament and Rideau Hall, but it has been “no exit” for decades. The National Gallery uses it as a delivery entrance, but surely there is a less cumbersome way to get deliveries.

The new path they are building under Kiweki point and Alexandra bridge, connecting Lady Grey to the Locks might add a new purpose to it.

[vtecyo]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

The new path they are building under Kiweki point and Alexandra bridge, connecting Lady Grey to the Locks might add a new purpose to it.

Are they building that already? I thought it was a long term proposal for when they eventually replace the bridge.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by vtecyo

Are they building that already? I thought it was a long term proposal for when they eventually replace the bridge.

I remember it mentioned somewhere in the same story with Lady Grey rebuild, but maybe it was indeed just about the long-term plan...

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Why does Lady Grey even exist?

It was built as a scenic route between Parliament and Rideau Hall, but it has been “no exit” for decades. The National Gallery uses it as a delivery entrance, but surely there is a less cumbersome way to get deliveries.

I think this is probably the least cumbersome way that they could take deliveries... down a nice gentle slope to a discreet location at basement level behind the public faces of the building, with a space large enough for multiple loading docks and truck parking. With a site on a bluff, otherwise hemmed-in by major roads, it doesn't get much better than this.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I think this is probably the least cumbersome way that they could take deliveries... down a nice gentle slope to a discreet location at basement level behind the public faces of the building, with a space large enough for multiple loading docks and truck parking. With a site on a bluff, otherwise hemmed-in by major roads, it doesn't get much better than this.

The loading dock is a few metres from the pluralism centre’s loading dock which is accessed from Sussex. It seems like a huge waste to rebuild a retaining wall to support a street that serves little purpose but an underused service entrance. Needlessly blocks a lot of the waterfront too.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by acottawa

The loading dock is a few metres from the pluralism centre’s loading dock which is accessed from Sussex.

Yes, but the Gallery's lower level is a 20-ish foot drop in elevation below that, and it doesn't look like there would have been enough space for a ramp.

It seems like a huge waste to rebuild a retaining wall to support a street that serves little purpose but an underused service entrance.

According to the NCC, Lady Grey Drive is being rebuilt for use as a multi-use promenade. And I'm sure that the Gallery uses its service entrance as often as they need to... it's their only one.

Needlessly blocks a lot of the waterfront too.

The narrow strip of waterfront below this escarpment would be a tough site to develop, even if the NCC allowed it.

[zzptichka]

[Spoonsy]

Progress on Lady Grey Escarpment and Wall project. Not particularly exciting but looks like a decent sized job

May 27 2025:


https://i.imgur.com/O6BNBbu.jpeg

[zzptichka]

Would be great to have a swimming dock there eventually.

[zzptichka]

New crane!



I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, it was falling apart and NCC needs to fix it. On the other hand, seeing $100M or so, being poured into basically a delivery road that is too narrow to make it an interesting pedestrian space, seems like a lot for the NCC budget, when it could've been spent on projects that are being put on hold because of lack of funding...

[zzptichka]

There appears to be a foundation for a pathway next to the river after all. Good to see. Wonder if they manage to connect it to Kiweki Point right away or it's outside of the project boundaries.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

There appears to be a foundation for a pathway next to the river after all. Good to see. Wonder if they manage to connect it to Kiweki Point right away or it's outside of the project boundaries.

I think that's the foundation for the new retaining wall itself, which you can see sitting atop that foundation just behind the crane. Here's an enlightening video tour of the project, which does mention opportunities for new waterfront activities. So maybe there will indeed be some sort of lower pathway.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNqi8FMx6eS/

[zzptichka]

Thanks for the find. So it's just a wider road with some room for a MUP without river access and looks like no connection to the Kiweki point for now. Bummer.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Thanks for the find. So it's just a wider road with some room for a MUP without river access and looks like no connection to the Kiweki point for now. Bummer.

No, not necessarily... This project is getting more interesting. Apparently, the Lady Grey Drive rehabilitation includes new public access to the historic Queen's Wharf site.

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Core-Area-Plan-Draft-April-2025.pdf

[rocketphish]

Look at these fantastic old photos of Lady Grey Drive and the riverside activities of 100 years ago:

https://apt613.ca/capital-history-ottawa-colourized-ketchums-rattes-rattys-boathouse-1860s-1950s/