Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The City of Ottawa reports solid progress in the construction of the $2.1 billion Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, with the tunnel breakthrough between east and west sections on Dec. 28, with the goal of having the complete excavation by Feb. 28.
Current and upcoming construction activities include:
- Pimisi Station structural steel installation;
- Lyon Station west vent shaft work;
- Beginning of track work in the west running tunnel;
- Ongoing overnight work at the Rideau Station west and east entrances, and at the East Portal;
- Structural steel installation at uOttawa Station;
- Overnight bracket installation at the Mann Ave. bridge;
- Structural steel installation at Lees Station;
- Fencing installation on guideway just west of Tremblay Station;
- Overhead Catenary System energized in phases for ongoing vehicle testing from Belfast Yard and Blair Station; and
- Ongoing Mann Ave. bridge reconstruction work through end of 2017.
Here are more detailed reports (as of mid-January) on station construction progress, provided by the city.
West Stations
Tunney’s Pasture Station
Station construction ramps up and includes work on stairs, footings and walls, as well as drilling of rock anchors.
Bayview Station
Underground mechanical and electrical work continues at the station. Crews also install grade beams, backfill and work on the ancillary building’s foundation.
Pimisi Station
Crews continue concrete work, including rebar installation, in anticipation of concrete pours for the platform track slab by end of the month. Other station activities include stripping slabs and working on elevator pits.
Central Stations
Lyon Station cavern
Crews continue pouring concrete for the concourse walls and architectural work advances in the station. Work includes masonry installation, reinforcing and curbs. In the west transition, rebar and conduits are installed as part of initial work for the track slab and final shotcrete lining installation also occur.
Lyon Station west entrance
Entrance construction is ongoing and includes forming the roof of the adit and pouring walls along the lower level stairs. Crews install the winter enclosure at the station’s east vent shaft and continue wire saw cutting for an anticipated breakthrough to the tunnel.
Lyon Station east entrance
Crews form and pour concrete for the ground floor knee walls and begin forming the lower escalator slabs. Mechanical rough-ins also occur. At the HVAC shaft, crews continue wire saw cutting for an anticipated breakthrough to the tunnel.
Parliament Station cavern
Work on station decks and columns is ongoing and includes the installation of rebar, followed by concrete pours. Final arch concrete lining pours also begin in sections inside the cavern, and in the running tunnel, crews build starter walls and pour mud slabs.
Parliament Station west entrance
Activities at the integrated entrance will resume in the next weeks with architectural work for the parapets. At the east vent shaft, hand chipping and excavation are ongoing for the next weeks.
Parliament Station east entrance
Integrated entrance excavation is ongoing and includes the installation of rock bolts and rock support.
Rideau Station cavern
The station continues to take shape with arch waterproofing and rebar installation followed by concrete arch final lining pours. Work on bulkheads and concrete pours for the station walls also are happening or will conclude soon.
Rideau Station west entrance
Construction continues 24/7 in this area with excavation and shotcrete work in phases. The removal of the existing shoring, waterproofing and the installation of rebar for the raft slab also take place. Rock excavation is ongoing at the HVAC shaft.
Rideau Station east entrance
Waterproofing, the installation of rebar on exterior walls and concrete work for slabs, stairs and escalator pits are ongoing for the next weeks as part of this phase of entrance construction.
uOttawa Station
Station construction progresses and includes installation of masonry at one end of the station, while crews excavate at the other end of the station to continue the next phase of foundation work. Work also occurs on station walls and slabs.
East Portal
Crews continue waterproofing, installing rebar and formwork, and pouring mud slabs in sections along the ramp during the daytime and overnight. Conduits are installed and ramp reinforcements and insulation work also occur.
West Stations
Lees Station
Crews have started installing duct banks and continue micro-piling, as well as rebar and formwork, as part of station foundation work.
Hurdman Station
Construction includes falsework for the station’s suspended slab, roofing, the installation of the next phase of structural steel, rebar and concrete pours for the station stairs. In addition, crews continue electrical work and waterproofing at the ancillary buildings. Finishing work is ongoing at the bus operators’ building with tile and ceiling work occurring inside and porcelain panel installation taking place outside.
Tremblay Station
Station progress continues with work on the roof, framing of the soffit, flooring, painting, the installation of cable trays in secondary rooms, as well as work on walls and elevators.
St-Laurent Station
Crews continue working on the station’s head house, elevators and plenum, in addition to painting and pouring concrete for the mezzanine.
Cyrville Station
The station continues to take shape; this week, crews install porcelain and composite panels as well as frame ceilings and work on the finishes for the auxiliary building.
Blair Station
The installation of composite and porcelain panels and ongoing systems wiring take place at the station. At the bus operators’ building, rough-ins and interior finishes such as tile installation are ongoing.
Tunnel Excavation and Support
Tunnel reinforcements and mining are ongoing in the last remaining section of running tunnel west of Rideau Station.
A small punch-through occurred on December 28th, meaning the western portion of the tunnel has now met the eastern portion. There is now a contiguous 2.5-km tunnel. Complete tunnel excavation is on track for the end of February.
Guideway
Tunney’s Pasture Station to West Portal
Work on the guideway includes the removal of the parapets along Bayview Bridge and drilling for the crossover tracks in phases.
Mann Avenue Bridge to Blair Station
Crews have delivered and installed the traction power sub station on the guideway west of Lees Avenue. Teams also continue testing vehicles on tracks between Cyrville and Blair stations and at the Belfast Yard connector.
