May 21 Newsletter 2021

May 21, 2021 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

COVID-19 Outdoor Amenities Update 

Beginning May 22, 2021, outdoor recreational amenities will be opening with restrictions in place. These include golf courses, tennis courts, skateboarding parks, sports fields, BMX and skate parks, shooting ranges and archery ranges, and horse riding. 

Splash Pads will remain open. As of Friday May 21, 2021, the province’s reopening plan has been amended to allow splash pads to open. Check ottawa.ca/recreation for a map to find your nearest splash pad. Splash pads are open daily from 8 am to 9 pm. 

Children do not need to wear masks while on the splash pad, but parents and guardians are asked to help maintain COVID-safety by:  

• Avoiding crowding on the splash pad  
• Maintaining your child’s physical distancing from individuals outside your household  
• Ensuring they avoid touching their face and common touchpoints on the splash pads  
• Washing or sanitizing your child’s hands regularly  

Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to wear masks near splash pads and keep two metres from those outside their household. 

New Official Plan Renter Meeting 

Join me, and Councillors Fleury, Kavanagh, Leiper, McKenney and Menard to discuss what Ottawa’s New Official Plan could mean for renters. All Ottawa renters are invited to attend. Sign up HERE

Vaccination appointments in provincial booking system temporarily full 

The provincial extension of the vaccine appointments to residents 18 years of age and older has resulted in the booking of all available appointments. 

More appointments will become available as the City receives more vaccines from the Province. 

The vaccine roll-out continues across Ottawa. Anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one.   

Stay tuned for more updates. Sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination update e-subscription for regular news on the vaccine roll-out. 

City’s Summer Aquatic eGuides now online 

With hopes to dive back into better days this summer, the City’s 2021 Summer Aquatic eGuides are now online at ottawa.ca/recreation. Registration for the COVID-modified aquatic program offerings starts on Wednesday, June 2 at 9 pm. 

Montreal Road Revitalization 

Please find below a two-week update (May 17 to May 28) for the Montreal Road Revitalization project. The work activities planned for the next two weeks will include: 

• Vanier Parkway/Montreal Road intersection – Crews are continuing work on the south side of the intersection and will continue in the intersection for the duration of May. The work includes installing underground traffic signal infrastructure, reconstructing the median, and building the road box. Work was completed last weekend that required the closure of a northbound through-lane. Three out of four crosswalks will be open to allow pedestrian movement around the intersection. Upcoming work on the east leg of the intersection will require shifting the north-south crosswalk approximately 30 m east, which will be controlled by flaggers during working hours. During non-working hours, the crosswalk will operate as per normal conditions. 

• Vanier Parkway to de l’Église Street – Excavations are underway at Dupuis Street, Emond Street, Bradley Avenue, Hannah Street, Lajoie Street, Mona Avenue and Lafontaine Avenue. The work focuses on underground construction, including electrical ducts, sewer replacement and underground utilities. Installation of underground tree soil cells has started in numerous locations; however, planting of trees will not start until late 2021. Concrete curb construction will start this week/early next week between Vanier Parkway and Olmstead Street on the north side of Montreal Road. No watermain shuts are expected for the next two weeks in this stretch. Any water shuts are communicated at least 24 hours in advance. 

• De l’Église Street to St. Laurent Boulevard – Excavations have started at de l’Église Street and the intersection is closed. Watermain work, including commissioning a 150 m section of pipe east of St. Laurent Boulevard, is almost complete. A water shut for this section is planned in early June and is being coordinated with impacted businesses/institutions. Work is planned to start late this month/early June at Ducharme Boulevard, which will require closure of the intersection.  

• Adjustments to bus and vehicle detour – Traffic calming measures will be implemented starting this week/early next week along Lafontaine Avenue between McArthur Avenue and Montreal Road. Some minor adjustments have taken place and will continue over the next month along Montreal Road, the bus detour route, and McArthur Avenue at St. Laurent Boulevard and Vanier Parkway. The adjustments include reinforcing road closures at certain streets, additional signage, signal timing adjustments and pavement markings.   

• Continued traffic impacts and road closures – Montreal Road is reduced to one westbound lane from Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard. Vanier Parkway northbound and southbound lane closures will continue intermittently throughout the month of May. Expect delays. All streets are closed between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard, with the exception of Olmstead Street, Bégin Street, Marier Avenue, Granville Street/Lafontaine Avenue and Cantin Street. 

• Month-long construction outlook – Continued underground pipe and utility work between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurant Boulevard is scheduled, followed by road, curb and sidewalk work starting between Vanier Parkway to Olmstead Street. The installation of soil tree cells will continue, and landscaping excavations an Emond Street and Bradley Avenue will begin. 

Traffic Impacts 

• Highway 174 – The following Highway 174 ramps and lanes will close for Stage 2 LRT roadwork: 
• The eastbound off-ramp to Blair Road will close nightly from 7 pm to 5:30 am from Tuesday, May 25 to Sunday, June 6. 
• Vanier Parkway, between Presland Road and Donald Street, will have lane closures in each direction from Monday, May 10 to late June for sewer and watermain replacement work. One lane in each direction will be maintained for traffic and cyclists. Signed detours will be in place for pedestrians.