Community Update: Wall Replacement to Begin – Detour Required

  Rideau Canal Walls near Echo Drive

October 9, 2018 – Work to replace the Echo Drive section of the Rideau Canal walls in Ottawa, along Colonel By Drive between Concord Street North and Main Street, will begin the week of October 22nd. Vehicle traffic may experience lane reductions during off-peak hours throughout the mobilization phase, which will be communicated with local signage and controlled with flag staff. For the duration of the project, there will be a reduction in parking between Main Street and Concord Street North on Echo Drive, and a pedestrian/cyclist detour in place on the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway (map below).

This phase of construction will include:

• the replacement of 262 metres of concrete wall;


• reconstruction of a strip of the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway;


• new railings to maintain public safety; and,


• site restoration and landscaping

The rehabilitation of the Canal walls in downtown Ottawa is part of Parks Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion dollar investment 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. These historic investments will mitigate health and safety risks, halt the loss of nationally significant built heritage and stimulate the economy in communities across the country.

Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway Detour Map

Investment into the Rideau Canal Walls The first phase of this project rehabilitated a 500 meter length of the canal wall on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side near the Bronson Bridge. Work included chipping away the damaged concrete and re-forming and placing new concrete to resurface the walls. Concurrently, work was undertaken to repair the Rideau Canal Western Pathway in this area. The work for this phase was completed in spring 2016.

The second phase of this project repaired approximately 500 meters of walls between the Bank St bridge and Pig Island on the East side of the Rideau Canal. This work included chipping away damaged concrete and refacing the walls with new concrete as well as the replacement of light posts, handrails, and repairs to the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway. This second phase of work was completed in the spring of 2017.

For More Information:

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit our website: www.pc.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. If you would like to be added to our community engagement list and receive updates on this project, please e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include “Rideau Canal Walls” in the subject heading.