Interlock Paver Sidewalks for the Glebe
The City of Ottawa released an update on the Bank Street Rebuild that included the addition of interlock paver sidewalks to the Glebe.
The Bank Street Reconstruction Advisory Committee, established by City Council and including representatives from the Glebe Community Association and the Glebe BIA, recommended the change to the design, which had included concrete sidewalks. The committee made the recommendation on grounds that the sidewalks would be more distinctive, visually pleasing and in tune with the history of the neighbourhood. Funds for the interlocking pavers are being found through economies elsewhere in the project, including deletion of the park belvedere entrances at Central Park east and west.
Interlocking pavers will take considerably longer to install than concrete sidewalks. The contractor intends to begin installing the interlocking in the central part of the construction zone, around Third Avenue, then move out from there. There are 2.8 kilometres of sidewalk to be built. It is likely that some parts of the sidewalks will have to be done in temporary asphalt and the rest of the interlocking work will be done next spring. Construction this year is to finish November 15.
One sign of progress on the reconstruction of Bank Street is that some buildings, serviced with temporary water hoses on the road surface, will soon see service supplied from the new water pipes. In several blocks, the contractor has excavated, taken out the old pipes, installed new ones, installed other underground services — such as sewer and telecommunications cables — and then constructed the new road. By August 20, most of the properties on temporary water will be reconnected to the permanent system. These reconnections will mostly be done during the daytime.
After a very intensive period of construction in May-July, the project will see the pace slow somewhat as more labour-intensive work, such as sidewalk installation, begins.
Sidewalks along Bank Street are in some places becoming very narrow as the roadwork closest to buildings is completed. Installation of electrical cables, traffic-control devices, curbs and stormwater drainage pipes require cutting part of the sidewalks. The project manager last week asked the contractor to widen the sidewalks with the use of stone or asphalt to ensure they are passable.
A significant detour change will happen on August 8 as major underground work is commenced on Holmwood Avenue, requiring its closure. The detour for traffic through the Glebe, which sees northbound traffic turn right on Holmwood, will change so that vehicles continue north on Bank Street to Fifth Avenue, then turn right, then left on O'Connor Street. This detour route will return to normal around August 29.
