October 28 Newsletter 2022

October 28, 2022 newsletter from Rawlson King, City Councillor for Rideau-Rockcliffe.

With the end of the election blackout period, I am pleased to continue to share relevant information with residents of Rideau-Rockcliffe, especially concerning numerous construction projects in the Ward.

Montreal Road Revitalization

Thank you to those who attended the Montreal Road reopening event on Saturday, October 22. The event was well received with a large turnout from members of the community including residents, business owners and cyclists. Montreal Road is now permanently open to two-way traffic between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard.


We appreciate your patience as this significant milestone of reopening the road to traffic and transit operations was achieved. Work on Montreal Road will resume in spring 2023, with crews completing final works such as the commissioning of the cycling track east of Lafontaine, intersection work at de L’Église and Lafontaine, and remaining landscaping by mid-summer 2023. Two-way traffic will be maintained during the 2023 work and no detours will be required.

Over the next two weeks (October 24 to November 4) crews will as much work as possible before the winter shut down.  

Lafontaine/Montreal Road intersection - All underground work is now complete at the intersection and the site has been prepared for concrete sidewalk. Construction of concrete sidewalks is tentatively scheduled to start the week of Monday, October 31 (weather pending). 

L’Eglise to St. Laurent Boulevard - Crews will be installing demarcation tiles over the next several weeks and will potentially pave the remaining sections of cycle track.

Landscaping and streetscaping - Landscape and street furniture installation is continuing, including the installation of bike racks, benches and garbage receptacles. Installation of delineator pavers (between sidewalk and cycle track) and buffer pavers (between the road and cycle track) is continuing throughout the project site.  Construction of the foundation for the electronic Vanier Community Sign located at the Montreal Road/Vanier Parkway intersection has been completed. The sign’s electronic components are on back order and should be arriving in the next two months.  

Side street and Intersection work - The three intersections that remain closed (St-Anne, Olmstead North, Granville, Mona and de L’Église) will be finished and cleaned up to allow all sides streets to open before the winter shut down.


Crichton Street & Springfield Road Rehabilitation Delays

The LIUNA labour union strike and delays with the Ontario One Call Locates system have had a major impact on the amount of work Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd. was able to perform in 2022. It is unfortunate to inform residents that there will be some deferrals to the Crichton and Springfield projects.  These delays combined with temperatureand dry-weather requirements for placement of the asphalt/concrete effectively means that the contractor cannot complete all their contracted work this construction season. This is an industry-wide problem, and we are seeing similar deferrals in other wards and on other contracts.

We are disappointed with these deferrals.  

As a result of the delays sustained by the contractor, an extension of time is under review to capture the total days which will carry over into 2023 construction season. The work will resume once half-load restrictions have been lifted and residents will be notified of our return to work through our Notice to Resident flyers.   The contractor has contractual/financial obligations to complete all of this work as soon as conditions permit in the spring of 2023.

At this time, City staff believe that the following work/roads will be postponed until next year:

Installation of Traffic Calming Measures on North River Road

Beginning in November, the City of Ottawa will start construction in the installation of traffic calming measures on North River Road.

What: Installation of two (2) speed humps:

• In front of 1043 North River Road;
  On North River Road between the Donald St and Columbus
  
  
• North River Road, from Glynn Avenue to King George Street.

Why: To install traffic calming measures.

When: Construction will start November 2, 2022 and be completed by November 18, 2022.

Where: North River Road

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained the contractor, Ottawa D-Squared Construction, to complete the work.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. The City makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require a disability-related accommodation, please contact the undersigned. Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request, at the following link: www.ottawa.ca/accessibleformat

Traffic Management

The construction is within the City’s right of way. Residents can expect construction traffic and activity along North River Road. The road will remain open to traffic. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained along North River Road at all times during construction.

Parking

The Contractor is obligated to provide 24-hour notification of temporary loss of access/egress.

Impact on the Right of Way and Adjacent Private Properties

The reconstruction is within the City’s right of way but may result in some disruption to part of the private property directly adjacent to the work. The City will reinstate all sections of landscaping, driveways, and walkways that are disturbed by construction. However, if you have plants or any other assets located within the City’s right of way that you want to preserve, we suggest that you move them in preparation for the construction work.

Construction Disruptions

The Contractor will take every precaution to minimize interruptions to the everyday life of your family and/or operation of your business. As you can appreciate, there may be some inconvenience during the course of the work, such as traffic delays, noise and dust. You may also feel vibrations due to heavy equipment operations. Vibrations from construction activities are quite common and rarely cause any problems. We would like to thank you for your patience and co-operation.

For construction activity hours of work, the City of Ottawa follows provincial requirements and the City’s Noise By-law (2017-255).

COVID-19

The City of Ottawa, in its commitment to protecting people and the community, continues to work closely with the industry and to comply with recommendations provided by municipal, provincial and federal health officials, as well as the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Contact Information

For any emergency outside normal working hours on weekdays and weekends, please call the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1. For further information about this project, please contact the City’s Project Manager:

City Project Manager
Christopher O’Brien, C.E.T.
Project Manager, Env. Eng. Projects
1 Onigam Street, Ottawa,
ON K1Y 2C5

Tel.: 613-580-2424, ext. 13837 Email: [email protected]

Contractor Project Manager

Nagantharan A. Naidu
Ottawa D-Squared Construction
Tel.: 613-501-8777
Email: [email protected]


Ottawa’s Client Service Centres now providing expanded in-person service hours

Ottawa’s Client Service Centres now offer expanded hours of operation.

As of Monday, October 24, the following locations are open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and will remain open during lunch.

• Ben Franklin Place Client Service Centre, 101 Centrepointe Drive
• City Hall Client Service Centre, 110 Laurier Avenue West
• Kanata Client Service Centre, 580 Terry Fox Drive
• Orléans Client Service Centre, 255 Centrum Boulevard

The following rural locations are open one day a week, from 8:30 am to 4 pm.

• Tuesdays: Metcalfe Client Service Centre, 8243 Victoria Street
• Wednesdays: West Carleton Client Service Centre, 5670 Carp Road
• Thursdays: North Gower Client Service Centre, 2155 Roger Stevens Drive

As well, in addition to offering marriage ceremonies every weekday at City Hall, we now offer marriage ceremonies in Orléans on Fridays.

Residents can schedule an appointment for all services on ottawa.ca/csc. Walk-ins will be accepted between 8:30 am and 4 pm but priority will be given to scheduled appointments.

Residents can continue to access many services online or by phone by calling 3-1-1 and selecting option 5, after selecting their preferred language.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Ottawa Public Health launches annual influenza vaccine campaign

Ottawa Public Health is planning for a fall and winter season with higher than usual levels of influenza (flu) in the community and an increase of COVID-19 transmission. Ottawa Public Health is encouraging residents to book their annual flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Flu vaccines are currently available for older adults and those at higher risk of complications from the flu virus from participating health care providers and pharmacies.

Starting November 1, the general public will be eligible to receive their flu vaccine through their health care provider or local participating pharmacy. Vaccine availability may vary by provider.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) will be offering flu vaccine clinics for children aged six months to two years old and their household members. Newcomers and individuals without OHIP who are unable to access a flu vaccine through a primary care provider or pharmacy can also book an appointment in OPH clinics. Starting October 31 at 10 am, individuals in these groups are encouraged to book an appointment at OPH flu vaccine clinics, with appointments available starting November 1. OPH clinics will be operating from Tuesday to Saturday at various locations across the city on a rotating basis. As a precaution, masks are required to be worn in OPH clinical settings at all times.

It is safe for individuals aged five and older to receive both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time. However, individuals aged six months to under five years who received the Moderna Spikevax or the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should not receive another vaccine including the influenza vaccine on the same day or 14 days before or after. This is a precaution to help to determine if a potential side effect is due to the COVID-19 vaccine or another vaccine. If an individual becomes ill with any respiratory illness, they can receive the influenza vaccine as soon as they recover from infection.

The flu, or seasonal influenza, is a common contagious infection that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. It is spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed by someone who has the flu. You can get the flu by shaking hands with someone who has the flu or by touching surfaces that have come into contact with flu droplets, and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Flu symptoms include a sudden fever as well as a cough and/or a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, headache or body aches, and chills. You may feel more tired than usual and have a lower appetite. Most people will recover within a week to 10 days, but some people (e.g. children under five years, older adults, immunocompromised individuals and pregnant people) are at greater risk of severe complications such as pneumonia or death. Influenza infection can also worsen certain chronic conditions such as heart disease.

We can all continue efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the flu. The best way to protect yourself, those you love and the health care system is through vaccination, wearing a mask, regular hand washing and staying home if you are sick.  

Events

We would like to invite you to the official Overbrook community safe zone event! We expect a lot of our community members!

MacKay United and the Beechwood Market have teamed up for a second time to bring you the Beechwood Night Market @ MacKay this Saturday, October 29 from 5pm-9pm. 

A licensed affair, grab a pint from Overflow Brewery and/or wine from Reif Winery while you check out the twenty vendors, grab some hot food and listen to the smooth sounds of Pete Woods & the Kindness of Jazz.

Location - Memorial Hall, 39 Dufferin. Poster below. 

Sponsors include Compass Rose, Lamarche Electric, Minto Apartments, the United Church of Canada, Natalie's Urban Ottawa and the Chartwell New Edinburgh.