Info-Work: Canal Wall Rehabilitation

November 4, 2016 - Smiths Falls, ON –Repair work on the canal walls in downtown Ottawa is slated to begin on November 7th, 2016.

Parks Canada will rehabilitate a 500m length of the canal wall between the Bank Street Bridge and Pig Island on the East side of the Rideau Canal. Work includes chipping away the damaged concrete and re-forming and placing new concrete to resurface the walls. A 60m section near Pig Island will require complete reconstruction to address structural issues. The work will also include the replacement of light posts, handrails, and repaving the pathway.

The in-water work associated with this project is scheduled to be completed by May 2017 with remaining shoreline work to be completed by summer 2017.

Beginning at approximately 9pm on November 7th, 2016 the contractor will be installing fences around the construction site and additional safety measures along the southbound lane of Colonel By Drive. A signed detour route will be in place as this work will require the overnight closure of Colonel By Drive in this area.

A 1.4km section of the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway, from Clegg Street to the Bank Street Bridge, will also be closed throughout construction and a detour route for pedestrians and cyclists, primarily along Echo Drive, will be in place. Temporary measures will be put in place at either end of the detour to assist pedestrians and cyclists in safely crossing Colonel By Drive as part of the detour route.
Fences will extend into the canal a short distance, but will have only a limited impact on the Rideau Canal Skateway. Residents and visitors will continue to be able to skate past this location while the rehabilitation work is underway.

Parks Canada is investing an unprecedented $3 billion dollars over 5 years 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. Through these investments, Parks Canada is protecting and preserving our treasured places, while supporting local economies, contributing to growth in the tourism sector, and enhancing the charm and attractiveness of Canada’s heritage sites.

For additional information on Parks Canada infrastructure work in the Ottawa area, please visit www.pc.gc.ca/rcOttawa, or contact us at rideaucanal.info@pc.gc.ca.

Information:
Darryl Whitehead
External Relations Manager
Ontario Waterways Unit, Parks Canada
Darryl.whitehead@pc.gc.ca