The Elgin Street renewal project in downtown Ottawa will transform 14 blocks between Gloucester and Isabella Streets with major improvements including reconstructing about six kilometres of aging underground infrastructure. The general contractor is Aecon Construction Ontario East Ltd per The Daily Commercial News.
Key components of this project will include the following:
- Wider sidewalks
- Shared-use lanes for cycling and vehicles
- Flexible space to accommodate on-street parking and seasonal restaurant patios
- Streetscape enhancements
- Road structure and pavement upgrading
- Underground sewer and watermain infrastructure
Elgin Street is an arterial corridor for both northbound and southbound traffic into and out of the downtown core.
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Construction started in early January and all underground infrastructure work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. At that time, Elgin Street will be paved and reopened to two-way traffic. Construction will then resume in the spring of 2020. The project budget is $36.3 million.
"The driving need is to renew underground infrastructure which is at the end of its lifecycle and requires replacement. Sections of the underground watermains and sewers along Elgin Street and Waverley Street are more than 100 years old. This will allow the city an opportunity to revitalize the street as well."
City of Ottawa Manager of Design & Construction | Carina Duclos
A public design workshop took place in late June 2016 regarding the proposed project. 170 people participated and identified various improvements needed including:
- Widening sidewalks
- Burying overhead utility lines
- Planting trees and other measures to enhance the public areas
- Improving the cycling environment
According to Ottawa News, a lot of businesses have been affected by all the construction work and street closures but to encourage people to still visit the area during construction and help drivers with parking, the city has offered free parking at city hall on weekends and weeknights after 6 pm until the project is complete. Detours are in place and sidewalks remain open for pedestrians.
DataBid is currently reporting on this project - Ottawa Elgin Street Renewal (0022061418)
