Community Update: Construction Ongoing

Cofferdam around the Rideau Canal wall work at Echo Drive

July 24, 2019 – Construction on 262 metres of Rideau Canal wall at Echo Drive is ongoing. The contractor is operating within a cofferdam - a temporary dam that creates a dry in-water work space – to allow them to work throughout the navigation season. While this has no impact on navigation, pedestrians and cyclists will need to continue following the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway detour (map below). 

The contractor has recently completed the canal wall demolition and excavation in preparation for the installation of the new wall. Throughout July and August, piling and foundation work will be completed. Once this work is finished, formwork will be installed and the concrete for the new walls will be poured. This project is expected to be completed in spring 2020. '

The rehabilitation of the Rideau Canal walls in downtown Ottawa is part of the Government of Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion investment to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway, and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada.

Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway Detour Map

Infrastructure investment into the Rideau Canal walls in Ottawa

Since 2015, Parks Canada has completed:

• Re-facing of 500 metres of the canal wall on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side near the Bronson Bridge


• Repair of sections of the Rideau Canal Western Pathway near Bronson Bridge and Pig Island


• Repair of approximately 500 meters of walls between the Bank Street bridge and Pig Island on the east side of the Rideau Canal and the replacement of light posts and handrails

For More Information:

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit our website: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. If you would like to be added to our community engagement list to receive updates on Rideau Canal projects, please e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca.