City of Ottawa celebrates completion of Main Street Renewal Project

Ottawa – Mayor Jim Watson and Capital Ward Councillor David Chernushenko joined members of the community and the Ottawa East Community Association today to mark the completion of the Main Street Renewal Project during a celebration hosted by the Community Activities Group of Old Ottawa East.

The community gathering on Main Street included fun activities and lunch outdoors accompanied by live entertainment. Safer Roads Ottawa put on a bike rodeo for kids and offered tours of the new cycle tracks and bike boxes, while the Main Farmers’ Market was open for business with fresh local produce and craft goods. Mayor Watson marked the official completion of construction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new public artwork by Stuart Kinmond, entitled Main², a gathering space at the corner of Main and Hazel streets.

The $39 million Main Street Renewal Project began construction in 2015 after extensive consultations with the area’s businesses, residents, and community organizations. The project involved a renewal of the street’s infrastructure following the City’s complete street guidelines, aiming to link the street together as a unified corridor and create memorable places along it while recognizing and supporting the character of its communities.

The infrastructure of Main Street has been renewed and revitalized, and now provides better options for walking, cycling, and transit use. Cycle tracks have been built to support the Main Street corridor as a spine route which directly links major commercial, employment, institutional, residential and tourist destinations throughout the City. The sidewalks have been widened to create as much space as possible for pedestrians, by minimizing the amount of required roadway used by vehicles.

In addition, the visual interest of the street has been improved in many ways. The public art work Main² is a landscaped square at the corner of Main and Hazel streets that provides a community space for resting and socializing, featuring geometric-shaped benches shaded by tall towers, each framing colourful multi-layered glass images of the surrounding landscape of Old Ottawa East. Other enhancements include street furniture, trees, a community garden and the renewed Brantwood Place Gates.

Further improvements are planned nearby that will reinforce the community's sustainable transportation infrastructure and further support the success of the Main Street Renewal project:

• The Lees Station of the Confederation Line will offer more transportation capacity to the area
• A pedestrian and cycling bridge crossing the Rideau Canal opposite Clegg Street will link Old Ottawa East to Lansdowne Park and The Glebe
• A Multi-use Pathway along the west side of the Rideau River
• Bike lanes across the McIlraith Bridge.

Quotes

“Main Street has been revitalized and improved in ways that will benefit everyone who uses it. The new infrastructure encourages sustainable transportation choices, while the streetscaping elements reinforce Main Street’s unique character and history.”

Mayor Jim Watson, City of Ottawa

“I deeply appreciate how committed and engaged the community groups, public and stakeholders have been throughout this project. The new design strengthens Main Street’s vital role in connecting communities and offers real incentive for choosing sustainable and active modes of transportation.”

Councillor David Chernushenko, Capital Ward