$50M Bank Street reconstruction project finally underway

After years of planning and several delays thanks in part to labour shortages during the pandemic, the City of Ottawa is finally beginning a major construction project on Bank Street south of Billings Bridge to replace aging sewers and water mains.

The rebuilt streetscape will eventually include wider sidewalks, a raised cycle track and more trees.

"We're just doing it all on Bank Street," said Roxanne Tubb, a senior city engineer and project manager for the Bank Street renewal project. "We'll also be replacing the traffic signals, street lighting and bus shelters."

The project has been on the books since 2012, when the city undertook its first design plan for the major roadway.

I'm hoping the project will be a success in the end, so we have to endure a little bit of pain to get there.- Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr

"It is a monumental project. It's long overdue," said Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr. "You'll see when you're coming from Old Ottawa South and the Glebe and you hit this area, the street takes on a completely different look. It's not pedestrian friendly, it's not friendly for cyclists."

The project has been divided into two phases. The first, which has a budget of $50 million and runs from the Rideau River to Collins Avenue, two blocks past Heron Road, is expected to take at least three years.

After that, the city hopes to revamp a second portion of Bank Street between Collins and Ledbury avenues, just north of South Keys. That phase is still in the design stage and isn't expected to get off the ground for a number of years.

So what starts this week?

For now, crews are beginning with a short 500-metre section of Bank Street, from Riverside Drive W. to Ohio Street. 

"It'll be down to two lanes, one lane in each direction. People will likely start seeing, during the peak hours, traffic backing up on either side," said Tubb.

According to the city, the bulk of the underground work on that short section should be wrapped up by the end of the year.

"I do expect in the summer months that it will be a little bit slower for people to drive their vehicles to and from downtown," said Carr.

"I'm hoping the project will be a success in the end, so we have to endure a little bit of pain to get there — and lots of construction noise."

How far will the cycle track go?

When the the cycle track is completed in Phase 1, it will run from Billings Bridge to Collins Avenue, just south of Heron Road. After that, cyclists will be forced back onto Bank Street.

"We are actually going to be putting cycling lanes on the Billings Bridge itself," said Tubb. "So we will be transitioning from the cycle track itself to the road at Billings Bridge."

"Similarly, once we get to the south end where we end at Collins Avenue, we will be transferring cyclists to the road," she said.

Some local business owners are watching the changes with interest.

"I have been here for about six years and looking out the window I see maybe 20 cyclists both directions in a day," said Spencer Ayres, owner of First Fitness at 1408 Bank St., one block south of where the lane reductions are beginning this week.

"I'm hoping it encourages more cyclists and it's not just being done for the amount of use that it's getting currently," he said.

Tubb said every business within the construction zone will remain accessible to drivers and pedestrians.

"We're looking forward to getting it done," said Carr. "I'm optimistic. I'm hoping we can meet the timelines."