Stay informed! Sign up for the Elgin Street Renewal e-newsletter.

Integrated road, sewer and water project

Project description

The City of Ottawa is undertaking the construction for the renewal of Elgin Street from Gloucester Street to Isabella Street. This project also includes the renewal of Waverley Street from Elgin Street to Metcalfe Street through Jack Purcell Park, as well as roadway renewal on Isabella Street from Elgin Street to Queen Elizabeth Driveway. The existing underground linear infrastructure, some of which dates back to 1874, has reached the end of its useful lifecycle and is in need of reconstruction.

Specifically, the works proposed include:

Wider sidewalks, shared use lanes (for cycling and vehicles), and transit facilities (bus stops, bus pads and shelters)

Traffic control signal system and traffic calming measures including raised intersections, narrowing lanes and reduced speed limit (30 km/h from Lisgar Street to McLeod Street)

Flexible space to accommodate on-street parking, patios or other seasonal uses

Streetscape enhancements and street amenities including landscaping (such as tree planting, and hardscape features), public art and street furniture (including benches, waste receptacles, and bicycle racks)

Watermains, sanitary, storm and combined sewers

Utility reconstruction (Hydro Ottawa, Bell, Rogers, Enbridge)

Street lighting and signage

Road structure and pavement

The proposed project limits are as outlined in the Key Map [ PDF – 206 KB ].

This project will be guided by the work completed as part of the Elgin Street functional design plan which was approved by City of Ottawa Council in May 2017.

The approved functional design for Elgin Street was a product of an extensive study process, which included consultation with the public.

Project purpose

The purpose of the project is to prepare drawings and specifications for the reconstruction of the aforementioned streets. This includes the layout of the surface elements including sidewalk, cycling, transit and vehicle provisions, street lighting and streetscape improvements, and solutions for underground linear municipal infrastructure and affected overhead and underground utilities. Construction staging and traffic (pedestrian, transit, and vehicular) management methods are also to be investigated to minimize disruption during the construction period. For Elgin Street, the project limits will be subject to a full road closure for all of 2019, and lane reductions in 2018 and 2020.

Anticipated project schedule

Site investigations (soils, field surveys, condition assessments, investigations of existing sewers) : Winter 2018

Utility relocations: Early 2018 – Fall 2018

Design completion: Fall 2018

Construction commencement: Early 2019

Primary construction season: January to December 2019 (full road closure for all of 2019 to complete underground works and roadway)

Final Construction Season: Spring to Fall 2020 (partial/periodic road closures or lane reductions, to complete final asphalt lift, landscaping, streetscaping, street lighting, public art installation, and additional required reinstatements)

Budget

Project funds approved to date is approximately $40 million.

Public involvement and engagement

Public Information Sessions were held throughout 2017 and 2018 to present and get feedback from the public on the preliminary design drawings and more. Information from these sessions can be found on the Public Information Sessions page.

For further information or to provide comments, please contact Elgin@ottawa.ca.

Background information (Elgin Street and Hawthorne Avenue functional design study)

For background information please visit the Elgin Street and Hawthorne Avenue Functional Design Study page.