Construction in Rideau-Goulbourn and Drop-In Sessions

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Congratulations to Rideau-Goulbourn residents Sanchit and Riya Gupta on receiving the Mayor’s City Builder Award at Council on Wednesday, May 22. The Guptas established a chapter of MealCare, a non-profit organization that aims to combat food waste, in Ottawa. Working with local restaurants, university cafeterias and grocery stores, the Guptas take in surplus food, and, with the help of fellow volunteers, redirect it to shelters and soup kitchens where it is needed most.

Congratulations to Rideau-Goulbourn residents Sanchit and Riya Gupta on receiving the Mayor’s City Builder Award at Council on Wednesday, May 22. The Guptas established a chapter of MealCare, a non-profit organization that aims to combat food waste, in Ottawa. Working with local restaurants, university cafeterias and grocery stores, the Guptas take in surplus food, and, with the help of fellow volunteers, redirect it to shelters and soup kitchens where it is needed most.

In my most recent column, at the beginning of May, I highlighted the many culvert replacement projects that were scheduled to take place this summer. Many of these culvert renewals will lead directly into our roads program for 2020, such as Roger Stevens Drive and the other part of Rideau Valley Drive North. For now, though, I would like to focus on 2019 and let you know what you can expect to see under construction throughout Rideau-Goulbourn. Spoiler Alert: It is a lot.

We will begin with three major capital projects, two of which are ongoing. The McBean Street Bridge is still on schedule to re-open in December 2019. Construction will continue throughout the summer. The west side of the bridge is nearing completion following which the east side of the bridge will be dismantled, requiring another full closure of the bridge. We will continue to provide updates on this project. The Kanata South Link project continues as well with the widening of Old Richmond Road, between Hope Side Road and West Hunt Club as well as the construction of the roundabout at Hope Side Road. Finally, the intersection of Prince of Wales Drive and Bankfield Road will be under construction this summer as the City adds turning lanes in all directions. Additionally, Bankfield Road will be widened back to First Line Road and a signalized intersection will be installed at that point.

Onto road renewal, we have a number of Fall 2018 projects that were delayed due to the early winter that will get underway as soon as possible. Those include the McBean Street intersection with Goodstown Road, the Owlshead Road intersection with Munster Road, as well as portions of Dobson Lane, McCordick Road, and Third Line Road. These projects have already been awarded and will begin when half load restrictions are lifted from our roads. The list of 2019 road renewal projects in Rideau-Goulbourn include: 

  • Joy’s Road (Ottawa to Franktown)

  • Rideau Valley Drive North (Roger Stevens to Rideau Narrows)

  • Fallowfield Road (Eagleson to Huntley)

  • Barnsdale Road (Moodie to 416)

  • Barnsdale Road (Greenbank to Prince of Wales)

  • Hazeldean Road (Jinkinson to Carp)

  • McBean Street (Rail Crossing)

  • Dwyer Hill Road (Rail Crossing)

  • Manotick Main Street (Bankfield to Bridge)

  • Strachan (West of McBean)

  • Longfields Drive (Prince of Wales to Golflinks)

  • Carp Road (Hazeldean to Westbrook)

  • Mackey Road (Malakoff to Viola)

On our gravel roads, Paden Road will see its final lift in the two step rural road upgrade process between Harnett Road and Malakoff Road. Black’s Side Road will be upgraded using the same process this year and next between Ridingview Crescent and Flewellyn Road. McCordick Road, between Mackey Road and Cowell Road, will see new guiderails installed.

Some construction will also take place in a few of Rideau-Goulbourn’s many parks and also on a new one. Sarah McCarthy Park will see construction begin this month with a slated completion date of July. It will be Richmond’s newest park located on Cedarstone Drive. Keeping in Richmond, some final touches will be done on the work that took place in King’s Grant Park last year and the play structures at Richmond Lions Park will be replaced shortly. In Manotick, a collaborative effort between residents and my office has resulted in some new features being added to Gordon & Ivy Scharf Park. That work will also begin shortly.

Finally, in some less exciting but important nonetheless news, nearly $20M will be spent at our Trail Road waste facility which includes the replacement of the scale house and the capping of Stage 2 of the landfill. The landfill has a total of five stages. This is form part of a larger discussion in June as the Environment Committee begins discussing waste diversion and the Solid Waste Master Plan.

Drop-In Sessions

Our drop in sessions will be going on hiatus during the month of June due to the pending addition to my family but we will be back on schedule in July. I can imagine the stress this might cause you so, as always, feel free to contact my office anytime and we will do our best to assist. July will come before you know it and you can come visit at one of our next drop in sessions, with the first likely being held in Richmond.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Carp Snow Disposal Facility

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Carp Snow Disposal Facility.jpeg

By mid-October, the City of Ottawa will have completed Phase 1 of the Carp Snow Disposal Facility, which included primarily the clearing of vegetation. Work for Phase 2 will then begin at 200 Westbrook Road, just off of Carp Road. Every effort is being made to reduce the duration of the construction impacts.

A new snow disposal site is needed to accommodate a capacity shortage servicing the west end of the City of Ottawa. This project has been in the works for several years but just received some funding assistance in recent months from upper levels of Government that has allowed the project to move forward. The Contractor, Thomas Cavanagh Construction Ltd., will perform the work for the City of Ottawa.

Phase 2 will include installing environmental measures, excavation, earth moving and stormwater piping. The new Snow Disposal Facility will include an entrance road, perimeter fencing, lighting, a snow stockpiling area, a snow meltwater pond and a stormwater management pond. The construction will also include berms, landscaping, tree planting and a turtle pond. Westbrook Road will be widened at the entrance of the Snow Disposal Facility to accommodate trucks turning into the site.

Construction is anticipated to commence mid-October 2017, with construction completion by December 2018. For additional information regarding the project please refer to the project website: Ottawa.ca.

If you have any questions on this project, you can contact the City of Ottawa’s Project Manager on this file, Jeff DeLoyde at [email protected]. The contact for Cavanagh is Marten Doornekamp and he is available by email as well as: [email protected].

ITR Theatre Company

It’s the seventh game of the finals. Twenty years after a crushing defeat, the ladies have one opportunity for redemption. Will being shorthanded destroy their last chance of a comeback? This hilarious and touching comedy explores the roots of friendship, loyalty, and community. Join the ladies as they share their joys and woes… and drink beer… and eat chocolate...

Shorthanded – a Ladies’ Game highlights not only the “good old hockey game” but also the advances that women have made in traditionally male sports. This play has been rewritten especially for ITR by playwright Michael Grant as an all-female version of the hilarious, award-winning, original all-male Shorthanded. ITR is honoured to debut this new version. 

There are five performances to choose from.  Dinner shows are on October 21st & 28th at 6:00pm and are selling out quickly. There are still good seats available for October 20th & 27th at 7:30pm and the October 29th matinée at 2pm still has availability too.  All performances are at the Osgoode Community Centre, 5660 Osgoode Main Street, and doors open half an hour before show-time.  Tickets cost $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors and $55 for the delicious dinner theatre.  As a special bonus, the playwright will be there on opening night and will host an optional Q&A after that show as well as after the first dinner show.  

For more information, please e-mail [email protected]  or call 613-800-1165.  To order tickets on-line, go to http://itrtheatre.com/tickets.html and follow the prompts.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Column: Woodroffe Avenue & Carp Road updates

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Woodroffe Avenue Closure

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that the Woodroffe Avenue closure was to come before Planning Committee on February 11th.   Unfortunately, the closure was approved and will move forward.  One individual from Manotick came down to City Hall to speak against the closure and I very much thank him for taking the time to do so.  Many other residents submitted their concerns via email.  I am not a member of the Planning Committee so I did not have the ability to vote against the closure although I was present to speak against it as well.  In the end, the planning that took place after the initial decision to close it in 1997 was too strong with its legal and financial implications and Committee ultimately approved it. The item does not rise to Council, therefore I will not have an opportunity to officially register a vote against it. I’m sorry that I couldn’t have done more to prevent this closure.

Carp Road Widening Environmental Assessment Study

As I have discussed in this column in the past, the City of Ottawa is undertaking the Carp Road Widening Environmental Assessment Study. The City’s Transportation Master Plan identifies the need for Carp Road widening from two lanes to four lanes between Highway 417 to Hazeldean Road as a Phase 2 project to be completed between 2020 and 2025.  This was a project originally scheduled earlier but affordability has pushed that project back.

This second Open House, to be held at the Goulbourn Recreation Complex on Wednesday, February 26th from 6:30pm until 9:00pm, will provide an overview of study progress to-date, including the alternative designs considered and the evaluation criteria and methodology used to determine preliminary preferred design for the corridor. Your participation in Open House meetings is important where you can discuss the project with the study team and provide feedback. There will be on-going public consultation activities during the remaining course of the study.

Further information on the Carp Road Widening EA Study is available at ottawa.ca/carproad. Interested persons can provide comments throughout the EA process. Any comments received will be collected under the Environmental Assessment Act and, with the exception of personal information, will become part of the public record. For further information or to provide comments, please contact [email protected].

North Gower Nursery School Casino Night & Silent Auction

The annual North Gower Cooperative Nursery School fundraising event was a tremendous success last year with their Casino Royale theme.   If you missed it last year, this is your chance to see what all the fuss was about.   Keeping with the casino theme, the NGCNS invites you to this year’s Casino Las Gower and Silent Auction on Saturday, February 22nd.  Try your luck at one of the several casino tables, including Black Jack, Poker, Roulette, and more, or take a spin at the Wheel of Fire.  Peruse and bid on the numerous auction items available.  Enjoy a snack from The Marlborough Pub and Subway, or satisfy that sweet tooth with a dessert from Cinnamon Catering or Sugar House, and of course the bar is always ready to serve up a cold beer or a tasty martini!  I will reprise my role from last year as the master of ceremonies keeping everyone on their toes and well informed about when auction tables are closing to give you that last chance to outbid your neighbours and friends on that item that you just can’t go home without.  I look forward to seeing you at Casino Las Gower! 

The doors open at 8:00pm, and the last auction table closes around 12:00pm.  Tickets are $15 which will get you entry, food, and $500 in gambling chips – don’t forget that this is a ‘fun’draiser so chips have no monetary value, although they can be used to purchase raffles tickets for a door prize.  Additional gambling chips will also be available for purchase.  Tickets can be purchased from: Roxy’s, Perkins Lumber and at the door.

City’s Wildlife Speakers’ Series

Last year, the City of Ottawa approved a Wildlife Strategy that featured education as a strong component.  The Speakers’ Series stems from that Strategy.  Dr. Stan Gehrt, world renowned wildlife ecologist from Ohio State University, will provide insight on how people in urban and rural developments can coexist with coyotes, at the first event of the City’s Wildlife Speakers’ Series at 7:00pm on Friday, February 28, at Ben Franklin Place (101 Centrepointe Drive).

Dr. Gehrt is the lead investigator in the Cook County Coyote Project, which has been studying the coyote population in the greater Chicago metropolitan area since 2000.  This project has led to many interesting discoveries about how coyotes behave in different settings, and how they interact with humans and other animals.

Dr. Gehrt will share his extensive knowledge and experience to provide a better understanding of coyotes – including how and why they live in settled areas. He will also show how residents can avoid problems with coyotes, such as taking simple preventative measures around their properties.

In addition to the presentation, information booths will be on display from 6:00 to 9:00pm for residents to learn more about Ottawa’s wildlife and natural environment.

The City will hold three more events in the Wildlife Speakers’ Series this year. The series is intended to increase residents’ knowledge and appreciation of wildlife and promote coexistence through understanding and respect. The next event is planned for April on the topic of Backyard Biodiversity.  For more information on the coyote presentation, visit ottawa.ca.

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If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491.

Public Open House - Carp Road Snow Disposal Facility

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The City of Ottawa has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study to establish a new snow disposal facility in the City’s west end.  The City’s strategic snow disposal plan (2002) had identified the need to provide for 308,000 cubic metres of capacity within one or more snow disposal facilities in the west end.

The Process:  This study is being planned as a Schedule B project in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, as amended 2011, which is an approved process under the Environmental Assessment Act.

A Public Open House will be held to present the study process, evaluation criteria and alternative solutions being evaluated, as well as provide the public with an opportunity to discuss the study with the study team and to provide input and comment. 

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Goulbourn Municipal Building Council Chambers
2135 Huntley Road, Ottawa, ON  K2S 1B8

Public comments are welcome throughout the study. All comments received will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, and will become part of the public record.

Additional information is available on the City of Ottawa website at Ottawa.ca

If you would like to be added to our project mailing list or have project related questions, please contact:

Ravi Mehta, Project Manager
City of Ottawa
100 Constellation Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Phone: 613-580-2424 ext. 21712
Fax: 613-580-2587
Email: Ravi.Mehta @ottawa.ca