By Mark Buckshon
Ontario Construction News staff writer
A comprehensive plan to revitalize a major section of St. Laurent Boulevard, estimated to cost $260 million, has been approved by the City of Ottawa’s Public Works Committee.
The decision, made at a committee meeting lastThursday (Sept. 25) , advances a long-term strategy to reconstruct the arterial road between Hemlock and Innes roads. The project will now go to the full City Council for final approval.
The plan, detailed in an environmental assessment study, calls for a significant overhaul of the corridor to improve transit service and enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians. Key features of interest to the engineering and construction sectors include the introduction of new segregated cycle tracks, bus-only lanes in several sections, and bus queue jump lanes at key intersections.
From an architectural and urban design perspective, the project includes opportunities for an improved public realm, with the addition of new shade trees and landscaping. The plan also proposes a median multi-use pathway between Lemieux Street and Tremblay Road, which is designed to resolve existing conflicts with the Highway 417 on- and off-ramps.
According to a city staff report, the work between Lemieux Street and Innes Road is identified as a priority in the city’s Transportation Master Plan and is expected to be implemented before 2046. The remaining work, from Lemieux Street to Hemlock Road, would follow.
The approval allows city staff to proceed with the detailed design phase for the priority sections, which will lead to future tenders for the construction work. The city noted that significant consultation was held with businesses, government agencies, and residents, with feedback being integrated into the final recommended plan.
