December 10 Newsletter 2021

December 10, 2021 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

We have already had our first winter weather event of the season and snow now blankets the ground. Residents do not need to contact 311 during an event as crews will be working hard before, during, and after an event. That being said, sometimes certain roads and sidewalks might be missed or may require a little extra attention. Residents can easily report issues with winter road maintenance and winter sidewalk maintenance to 311 online.  

There are a few after-school COVID-19 vaccination clinics coming up. Parents can find all the information below. Many residents may already be aware that a new pedestrian bridge at the end of Blasdell Avenue is planned for installation in spring 2022. Next week, the NCC will undertake preparatory work for the project and residents can expect noise and vibrations. The work should only last for one day. 

The City is requesting feedback from residents regarding filling in gaps for its electric vehicle charging network. Residents can visit Engage Ottawa to suggest a location for an EV charging station. In January, a community sustainability plan workshop will be held by Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC) in partnership with the Overbrook Community Association. Interested residents may sign up for the workshop here. 

Project update: Blasdell Avenue pedestrian bridge 

Currently, the NCC is in the design phase of its project to install a new pedestrian bridge at the end of Blasdell Avenue. The bridge is slated for installation in the spring of 2022. 

Preparatory work will be conducted starting the week of December 13, 2021, weather permitting, and should take about one day to complete. This geotechnical work is necessary to verify the soil conditions in order to finalize the position of the bridge on either side of the creek. The work will involve the surveying and drilling of two boreholes, and removal of vegetation to access the borehole locations. The site will be returned to its original condition once the work is completed.   

Workers will be accessing the site from Blasdell Avenue with vehicles and machinery. Residents can expect noise and vibrations from the drilling work. While the work is ongoing, the NCC asks that the public follow the signage and all safety measures put in place by the workers on-site. The area will be blocked off for the duration of the work. 

Ottawa’s electric vehicle charging network is growing! Let us know where you’d like to see more charging stations 

The City is looking to fill gaps in electric vehicle charging stations in Ottawa to ensure more residents have reliable access to charging. Switching from gas and diesel to electric vehicles is one of the most important actions required to meet Ottawa's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. 

At this time, the City is specifically targeting areas that meet the following criteria:  

• Higher population density/more multi-unit residential buildings 
• High proportion of rental housing 
• Less frequent public transit 
• Areas with lower levels of household income 

You can suggest a location by adding a pin to the map on Engage Ottawa. 

Overbrook and Castle Heights Community Sustainability Plan Workshop 

Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC) in partnership with the Overbrook Community Association is hosting a community sustainability workshop on Saturday January 15th 2022 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Overbrook Community Centre, 33 Quill Street. 

Ottawa Biosphere Eco-City (OBEC) is a local, grassroots charity whose vision is an environmentally sustainable city that supports a high quality of life now and for future generations. 

Everyone in the community is invited to come together to outline future sustainability goals and projects (as well recognize and track current sustainability projects). 

To register for the workshop, click here. 

Montreal Road Revitalization 

Construction is wrapping up for the year and over the next two weeks crews are finishing temporary paving of sidewalks, cycle tracks and sections of road to prepare for the winter months.  Some hard landscaping is also finishing up. Starting Sunday, December 19, 2021 until late April 2022, Montreal Road, between the Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard, will reopen to two-way vehicle and transit traffic. In addition, all side streets with the exception of Savard Avenue will also reopen, providing full access to Montreal Road. The Transit and Vehicle impacts are depicted in the pictures below. 

Some utility work for Enbridge Gas and Hydro Ottawa will occur during the winter on the north side of Montreal Road between de L’Eglise and St Laurent.