On November 21, the NCC Board of Directors met to discuss recent and upcoming projects. Here are some of the highlights presented in my Report on Activities.
Hog’s Back Bridge
- The renewal of various elements of the Hog’s Back swing bridge remain in progress, including the rehabilitation of approaches, repairs to the foundation, and the replacement of hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical components.
- A temporary catwalk bridge and ramps are in place to allow pedestrians and cyclists to continue crossing the site, and temporary bridge supports are in place to support the bridge while work is being carried out on the main swinging mechanism.
- The project is scheduled to be finished next spring.
Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway Bridge
- The existing bridge has been demolished, and the foundation of the new bridge is being put in place.
Interprovincial Bridges
- Underwater foundations of the Champlain and Portage bridges were inspected following the spring floods, and no urgent deficiencies were discovered.
- Shorelines around the Portage Bridge were damaged severely during the floods.
- Hydraulic studies, geotechnical investigations, and underwater inspections have now been completed and the restoration of these shorelines is under way, in coordination with the restoration of the shorelines of Victoria Island.
Britannia Pathway Wall
- Work to reconstruct the Britannia Pathway wall will begin in December. Information about progress on this project will continue to be shared with members of the local community.
National Capital River Pavilion
- Rehabilitation work continues.
LeBreton Flats
- The next series of public consultations regarding the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats will take place later today, between 5 and 9 p.m., at the Bayview Yards. An online survey will also be available.
NCC Bistros
- The response to this initiative was enthusiastic, and the second year of this two-year pilot project, including a third bistro at Patterson Creek, will launch early in 2020.
Gatineau Park
- It was another record-setting summer for camping in Gatineau Park, and winter seasonal passes are on sale now.
Light Rail
- The NCC continues to support the City of Ottawa as it expands its light rail system. Five of the 24 stations planned for Stage 2 will be located on federal lands.
- Federal approvals at further stages of completion will be sought in 2020 and 2021 as the project rolls out.
Cycling Lanes
- The NCC will launch a pilot project that will add two snow-cleared sections of bike lanes to the existing network.
- The NCC is currently finalizing the necessary contracts for the removal of the snow from the Portage Bridge bike lanes and the St. Patrick bike lanes, which connects the Alexandra Bridge to Mackenzie Avenue.
Tree Canopy Study
- In September the NCC, the City of Ottawa, and the City of Gatineau jointly released the first region-wide mapping analysis of the Capital Region’s tree canopy, in collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Laboratory.
- It notes that almost half — 46% — of the Capital Region is covered by the tree canopy.
Climate Projections
- The NCC and the City of Ottawa are also working together, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and an external consultant, to acquire climate projections for National Capital Region in the 2030s, 2050s, and 2080s.
Fall Rhapsody
- Over eight days, almost 15,000 visitors were bused into the Park using the free shuttle service, and more than 20,000 were ferried between popular locations within the Park.
Champlain Lookout
- A section of the Champlain Lookout retaining wall that failed earlier this year will be rebuilt, with design work being carried out over the winter and construction work to begin in late spring or early summer. The construction work is expected to take eight to 12 weeks.
Meech Lake Road
- Once the Municipality of Chelsea has repaired the Meech Lake Road between Gatineau Park lots P8 and P9, the NCC will permanently dedicate the North Loop to non-motorized forms of transportation.
- This safe new route will contribute to the Municipality’s goals of ensuring that there is a dedicated cycling lane, while avoiding the need for widening Meech Lake Road — which would add both significant additional costs and potentially significant adverse impacts on the Park ecology.
