Perth and Meynell – Roundabout Issues and Delays

Residents in the Fox Run community of Richmond have been patiently waiting for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection at Perth and Shea. Unfortunately, the roundabout has again been delayed and is now expected to be completed in Spring of 2024.

To say that this is frustrating to me personally is a gross understatement. I am absolutely outraged and have expressed as much to the developer and City staff. The community has been enduring an intersection that should have been updated years ago. Moreover, the response on the rationale behind these delays to my office, and to the community has been unsatisfactory for a number of reasons.  Like you, I want to see this work completed.

Though this is not an issue within my control as a City Councillor, I have been actively following this matter, pushing at every step to move things along more quickly. I regret that my efforts did not succeed in getting this done on the schedule that I was promised it would be done on. Even so, I have convened City staff and the developer together around a set of ideas that I hope will serve as interim measures to improve traffic management as we wait for the roundabout.

Timeline and background

For some background, the roundabout at Perth and Meynell is one part of a number of road modifications which will occur in the west-end of Richmond as part of the Fox Run development.  The developer is responsible for its timely completion and the City’s role is to regulate the construction activities through various permits and orders. 

The project will include the roundabout, bus stops at Perth/ Meynell-Oldenberg, urbanization of the north side of Perth, including a sidewalk connecting Meynell Road to Rochelle, street lighting, topsoil and sod, and top course of asphalt on Perth Street. Generally, this work is anticipated to take about a year to complete from the issuance of a Commence Work Order and all relevant City permits.

The original cost estimate was based on a preliminary design in 2021 and upon completion of the detailed elements an increase to construction cost was justified which in turn required the project team to seek approval from Council to cover the additional costs. The approval from Council was given on July 12th, 2023. At that time, the developer indicated that the work on the roundabout would begin in August of 2023 and would be completed by this November, and I shared that information with the community. It was anticipated that final construction of all site improvements would be completed by the third quarter of 2024.

Since that time, the project team needed to resolve outstanding administrative issues which delayed the start of construction. Even so, the most recent information that I had when work began on site a few weeks ago was that the roundabout was expected to be completed in November.  

The project team has advised that the current delay is due in part to challenges encountered with scheduling and availability of construction crews given the approach to the winter season. It is not advised to go forward with roundabout construction at this time, even if the issue of availability of construction crews were not an issue, because laying asphalt and concrete in the winter can have adverse effects on the quality of materials, resulting in premature degradation of the infrastructure.

While I would like to see the work continue over the winter months, premature degradation of the intersection is an acute concern given the high volume of traffic on Perth Street. Given the high cost of this intersection work, the premature degradation of the roundabout and other infrastructure would increase costs on taxpayers and would push other much-needed priorities for the community further down the priority list.

With this in mind, despite the need for the infrastructure and the frustration we are all feeling due to the delays, it would be imprudent to force roundabout construction through the winter. That said, I’ve secured a commitment that some work will begin this year on the underground storm sewers, hydrants, and electrical conduits with wiring to be constructed later this Fall. This will mean that, once the spring thaws arrive, the laying of asphalt and concrete will be able to advance more quickly.

What I am working on

I remain clear in my conviction that the current state of the intersection is entirely unacceptable. I have expressed in no uncertain terms to the project team that the community expects and deserves better. In addition to ensuring that any work that can proceed, must proceed, I have also proposed a wide range of short-term improvements to reduce risk, and hold parties accountable, as we continue to wait for the roundabout. As a result, I can advise that City staff will be carrying out a site inspection in the coming weeks to determine if any additional measures can be implemented at the intersection this fall to improve roadway operations. I have made it clear that I would like to see traffic calming and mitigation measures such as additional pavement markings and the installation of a temporary speed board.

I remain in regular communication with City staff to explore other options to temporarily improve safety as we await the construction of the roundabout. I will keep the community informed as measures are confirmed.

Further, to address concerns with school bus pick-up and drop-off locations, staff will be scheduling a meeting with the Ottawa School Transit Authority to review appropriate locations to avoid high-traffic areas. I’ve also asked staff to liaison with the School Safety Program to ensure that someone is on-site periodically this winter to check for safety issues.

As well, before the Spring of 2024, a construction schedule from the project team will be shared with the Community outlining the planned construction activities for the traffic roundabout, concrete sidewalk, cycle track, streetlighting, pavement marking, landscaping and surface asphalt.

Conclusion

Those who know me know I live in Richmond and as such I drive back and forth through the intersection of Perth and Meynell usually four times a day. I know how unacceptable this situation is, and I have been doing everything in my power to get this roundabout completed. In my discussions with City staff back in January about infrastructure priorities in Richmond, I told staff that the roundabout at Perth and Meynell and a traffic light at Perth and Shea were the top two priorities for the village.

The reality is, because this is not a City construction project, my sway on this file is very limited. Even so, I acknowledge that the buck stops with me, and I know that residents are justifiably frustrated, as I am too, with the repeated and unacceptable delays. I will continue to advocate for this as one of my top priorities for the community and will not let up on the pressure to have short-term modifications introduced to improve safety.

Residents with questions can reach out to my office any time at ward21@ottawa.ca