Strandherd Widening Construction Updates

Thank you to Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson for joining us on September 8th to tour some of the affected businesses and to be part of the launch of this campaign!

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Commencing in summer 2020, construction has begun on widening the Strandherd Drive to a four-lane cross section from Maravista Drive to Jockvale Road in Barrhaven. The project is approximately 3.3 kilometres in length.

This large and complex project will provide capacity for existing and future traffic volumes during peak periods and facilitate the movement of cyclists and pedestrians through the corridor as well as provide the underground infrastructure to support growth.

The estimated total projected budget for the Strandherd Drive widening is $113M, including additional funding as part of the upcoming 2021 capital budget. In addition to the widening, the project includes:

• the construction of two temporary detour roads
• cycle tracks in both directions
• sidewalks
• a grade separation over the existing VIA Rail line (vehicular bridge over the tracks)
• improvements and extensions to watermain and sewers

To support new development south of Strandherd Drive, the project also includes the expansion and retrofit of the Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility to improve water quality. A multi-use pathway will be constructed throughout the stormwater pond limits and will include a new pedestrian bridge. The total project budget for the Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility is $15.8M.

For the latest construction updates, please scroll down.

SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES IN THE STRANDHERD CORRIDOR

We at the Barrhaven BIA are committed to keeping you updated of any traffic disruptions and construction updates but we would also like to encourage you to continue visiting the businesses along Strandherd in the construction zones. Coming out of COVID-19, these businesses need our support now more than ever so take a different route; stop to get a coffee or a meal, visit one of our many personal services providers, and shop in these great local stores!

Consult our directory to plan your trip and don’t forget to share great experiences on social media using #MyBarrhaven!

November 2020

Construction is progressing well. Over the past month, the following work has taken place:

• The temporary road detour between Borrisokane Road and Dealership Drive is almost complete and is expected to be ready for use the night of November 19, 2020. This temporary road detour is required for the construction of the bridge over the railway tracks. Just recently:
• Streetlights have been installed
• Culverts have been installed for Foster Drain under the detour road.
• A new railway grade crossing was installed
• Installation of lightweight fill over a deposit of sensitive silty clay at the corner of Borrisokane Road.
• Sewer installations continue between Borrisokane Road and Dealership Drive.
• Tunneling installation of the sanitary sewer was completed.
• The Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility detour between Jockvale Road and Andora Avenue was paved; this temporary road detour is required for the pond structural work planned for this winter.
• The Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility Access Road between Greenbank Road and the pond has commenced.

Next Steps:

Over the next few weeks, the following construction work can be expected:

• The sewer installation will continue between Borrisokane Road and Dealership Drive, including across the Dealership Drive intersection.
• Storm sewers will be installed under the railway tracks.
• Installation of headwalls at the inlet of the Gregory Casey Stormwater Management Facility.
• Installation of traffic signals at the Strandherd Drive / Chapman Mills Drive / Fraser Fields Way intersection.
• Work at the Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility will commence.

Reminder: Pipe Ramming work continues

As part of the Strandherd Drive Widening project, three sewers and a watermain will be installed under the railway using a tunneling type of installation, called pipe ramming.  This work began in mid-October and will continue until late fall 2020.

Pipe ramming is a trenchless technique for installation of pipes or casings. In pipe ramming, a tool is used to hammer the pipe or the casing into the ground. The casing is then emptied, and the soil brought to the surface. The sewers and/or watermain are then pushed inside the casings. This technique is commonly used under highway and rail embankments.

The trenchless crossing installation is required to mitigate impacts to the VIA Rail schedule. The work will occur along the railway corridor, north and south of Strandherd Drive.

The work is on-going and will take approximately 15 days of pipe ramming over a period of approximately two months, on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The schedule has been planned to ensure continuous installation under the railway to minimize any potential of rail disturbance.

Pipe ramming is very loud and may be disruptive.

Traffic Management:

To accommodate the above-mentioned work, the following traffic impacts will occur:

• The detour road is expected to open the night of November 19, 2020.
• The traffic signals at the Strandherd Drive / Chapman Mills Drive / Fraser Fields Way intersection will be commissioned.
• Intermittent lane reductions in both directions of Dealership Drive will tentatively start the week of November 23.
• Motorists can expect off-peak lane reductions, as necessary, throughout the project corridor.
• McKenna Casey Drive is now permanently closed from Strandherd Drive to southwest of the railway crossing; the closure is necessary now for the construction of the detour and the associated railway crossing and, ultimately to accommodate the new bridge over the railway on Strandherd Drive.

October 7, 2020

Upcoming Road Closures and Updates

Borrisokane Road – Borrisokane Road will be temporarily closed at Strandherd Drive (between Cambrian Road and Strandherd Drive) from Friday, October 9 at 6 pm to Tuesday, October 13 at 3 pm, for the installation of new sewers. In order to expedite the work and minimize traffic impacts, the City of Ottawa has approved night work. Local access will be maintained. Traffic will be detoured via Cambrian Road and Longfields Drive. Pedestrian and cycling access will be maintained.

McKenna Casey Drive – McKenna Casey Drive will be permanently closed between Strandherd Drive and the railway tracks beginning on October 14. The closure is necessary now for the construction of the detour and the associated railway crossing and, ultimately to accommodate the new bridge over the railway on Strandherd Drive.

As a result of the McKenna Casey Drive closure, access to the Gregory Casey Stormwater Management Facility from McKenna Casey Drive will not be possible during construction. Once construction is complete, in the fall of 2023, the Gregory Casey Stormwater Management Facility will be accessible from Borrisokane Road.

Chapman Mills Drive – Temporay Road Closure
Chapman Mills Drive will continue to be closed temporarily between Strandherd Drive and Waterlilly Way until October 10 for the installation of new sewers across the intersection. Local access is maintained. Traffic is detoured via Waterlilly Way, Kenton Avenue, Madrid Avenue and Andora Avenue.

Kennevale Drive / Dealership Drive & Tartan Drive / Borrisokane Road – New Traffic Patterns
The traffic will be realigned to the north side of Strandherd Drive at the Kennevale Drive / Dealership Drive intersection, as well as at the Tartan Drive / Borrisokane Road intersection to accommodate the sewer installation on the south side of Strandherd Drive. The new traffic patterns will be implemented the nights of October 6 and October 7.

September 18, 2020

Project Update

Construction is progressing well. Over the past few months, extensive work on the Strandherd Widening project has taken place, including:

• Construction of a staging area on the south side of Strandherd Drive between Borrisokane Road and the Gregory Casey Stormwater Management Facility.
• Clearing and placement of granular material for the road detour on the south side of Strandherd Drive, between Borrisokane Road and Dealership Drive. This temporary road detour is required for the construction of the bridge over the railway tracks. The detour is planned to be open by the end of 2020 or early spring 2021. More information will be communicated in advance.
• Clearing, excavation and placement of granular material for the widening on the south side of Strandherd Drive, between Chapman Mills Drive and Borrisokane Road.
• Commencement of the sewer installation across the Chapman Mills Drive intersection as well as between Borrisokane Road and Dealership Drive.
• Clearing and excavation for the Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility detour between Jockvale Road and Andora Avenue. This temporary road detour is required for the pond structural work planned for this winter. More information will be communicated in advance.
• Removal of concrete medians and paving of the medians along the corridor to accommodate traffic realignments.
• Temporary relocation of streetlights.
• Excavation for the trenchless installation of sewers under the railway track.

Photo 1: Road Excavation west of Chapman Mills Drive

September 2020

Construction of the detour road (south of Strandherd Drive between Borrisokane Road and Dealership Drive) and embankment widenings continue. There will be minor paving along the corridor where the medians were removed to prepare for future traffic realignments as well as paving for the new temporary pathway along the road between Jockvale Road and Andora Avenue. Stripping and excavation for the Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Management Facility detour (between Jockvale Road and Andora Avenue) may also commence. There will be off-peak lane reductions, as necessary, along the corridor for these works.

Summer 2020 – Construction has begun!

Construction on the Strandherd Drive Widening project began in early July 2020. The City of Ottawa has retained the Contractor, Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited to complete the work. Over the summer months, the following work can be expected:

• a construction staging area will be constructed on the south side of Strandherd Drive between Borrisokane Road and the railway corridor;
• construction of an entrance for the staging area off of Borrisokane Road;
• installation of new storm and sanitary sewers on the south side of Strandherd Drive between Dealership Drive and Borrisokane Road;
• construction of a short detour at the Kennedy-Burnett Stormwater Facility between the Home Depot and Andora Avenue; and
• installation of new storm and sanitary sewers on the south side of Strandherd Drive across the Chapman Mills intersection.