Connecting communities through roads, bridges, and respect 

Construction season in Ottawa bringing investment into infrastructure  Feature story   Construction can be a frustrating part of everyday life - clogging roads, causing noise, and disrupting commutes - but it's also a step towards building a thriving city for everyone.   From improving roads to fixing watermains, creating green spaces, and rehabilitating buildings and water facilities, construction lays the groundwork for long-term improvements.   Construction in the City   The City of Ottawa has unique urban, suburban and rural needs, with a land mass 4.4 times the size of Toronto. In 2025, Ottawa City Council approved over $700 million in infrastructure investments.    Here’s a look at some of the projects that are beginning, or ongoing, this year:   Bank Street renewal   The Bank Street renewal project is a multi-year investment that will serve vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians alike.  Bank street will be reimagined, with full reconstruction of sanitary sewer, storm sewer and replacement of distribution watermains within the project limits.  Once completed, Bank Street will include new street furniture, streetlights, protected intersections, trees, concrete sidewalks, grassed sections and paver stones.  Morisset Avenue Pump station     This project involves designing and building a new water pump station on Morisset Avenue to replace the existing station. The new station will improve the reliability of the water supply and ensure there’s enough emergency water for both current and future needs.   Integrated renewal -MacLaren Street and Lyon Street   In 2025, construction work will continue to replace the combined sewer and watermain on MacLaren Street and Lyon Street.   Both MacLaren Street and Lyon Street will have new roadway asphalt, and new concrete sidewalks.   Integrated renewal of Ella Street and Ralph street   The renewal of Ella and Ralph Streets includes a new combined sewer, new watermain, and new storm sewer construction.    This project also features road construction including sidewalks and curbs, raised crosswalks on the east side of Ralph Street, and the implementation of traffic calming measures including curb extensions and speed humps.   Renewal of the St. Patrick Street and Porter Island bridges     Both the St. Patrick Street Bridge and Porter’s Island Bridges are set for renewal this year.    The St. Partick’s Bridge will include cycling facilities, connecting to nearby cycling routes.   Improving sidewalks   Sidewalks are important for making neighborhoods safer and more comfortable for people to walk to places like school, shopping, work, transit, and recreational areas.    In 2024, the Pedestrian Facilities Program completed 13 projects across the city, nine of these improving access to schools.  In 2025, more than $11 million is planned to upgrade and maintain sidewalks and pathways.   Updating culverts  In 2025, dozens of culverts are slated to be replaced across the city, an investment of $17.7 million.   O-Train Extension Project   The O-Train Extension Project continues to make great progress. With the opening of Lines 2 and 4 early in 2025, the momentum continues pushing the east and west extensions forward. This year, construction activity will peak through the summer as progress continues on the east and west extensions.   While progress continues through the entire alignment, the two major areas of construction will be roadworks on Highway 174 in the east, and the Richmond Road Revitalization Project. Find more information on construction activities expected this year here.   Highway 174  

• Highway 174 was shifted to allow the O-Train guideway to be built within the median. To shift the highway lanes, many road configurations and closures are required.   

• Stretches of Highway 174 were repainted this spring to alleviate concerns from the community. Paving work will be ongoing through the summer.  

• Roadworks will continue through the year and after Line 1 East opening to complete the final paving.  

Pictured above: Highway 174, by Jeanne d’Arc Station.   Richmond Road Revitalization Project   The Richmond Road Revitalization Project is a complete streets project within the O-Train Extension Project.   Once complete, residents in the area will have access to two new O-Train stations, New Orchard and Sherbourne, as well as new connectivity enhancements and multi-functional community spaces.   To complete key improvements such as replacing aging underground water and sewer pipes, enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists, rebuilding the Byron Linear Park, and more, this multi-year endeavour involves road closures, utility service interruptions, heavy construction, night work, and noise.    In areas where detours are in place, westbound Richmond Road will remain open to maintain access to and from businesses and residences on the north side of Richmond Road.   The next traffic reconfiguration will begin on May 12 and remain in place until the end of 2025. The alignment includes:  

• Traffic will get to use the new, final alignment of Richmond Road from McEwen Avenue to Richardson Avenue.  

• Two-way traffic will use Byron Avenue between Richardson Avenue and Cleary Avenue.   

• New Orchard Avenue North will be fully closed at Richmond Road.   

• A turning circle for local traffic will be provided at the intersection of Ambleside Drive and New Orchard Avenue North.  

• Driveway access will be maintained for all businesses and residents.  

Find more information on construction activity expected this year here.   Pictured above: Richmond Road work by McEwen Avenue.   Respect. Patience. Safety for All    This busy construction season, we are reminding everyone about the importance of   Respect. Patience. Safety for All. Construction is a familiar part of life in Ottawa. Construction is a high-risk activity that involves working on the road, at heights and around high-voltage systems, while operating heavy equipment and vehicles.  Construction workers are working hard to keep their sites secure and free of hazards while they do their jobs, so that they can go home safe and sound at the end of the day.  When you drive by a construction site, please make sure you slow down, obey all posted signage, and follow the instructions of flag persons.  Understanding construction can be challenging, we are kindly reminding workers to be mindful of the impacts to residents and public safety.   We all share the responsibility to keep our roads safe. This means avoiding distractions, planning ahead and slowing down even if you are feeling rushed.