Richmond Roundabout Construction Update (Aug 21)
Work continues on the roundabout at Perth and Meynell. As I promised the community, I will continue to provide updates about ongoing work as I receive them from Caivan and Cavanagh Construction.
It is important to note that this project is not being managed by the City, and as such, I have an advocacy role rather than a decision-making role with respect to this project. This project is being funded by Caivan through development charges on home sales in the Fox Run community.
My office and I have been in regular communication with Cavanagh Construction and Caivan who are responsible for this project. We continue to do everything that we can to advocate for an approach that minimizes impacts to residents and improves construction timeframes so that work can be completed for the community. I am grateful to residents who have been in communication with my office, sharing concerns about the ongoing work and providing suggestions about how the project may be more efficiently completed.
To this end, we have received an updated timeline from the project manager that I wanted to share with the community. Please note that timelines are approximate and are contingent on factors such as weather conditions. This timeline is based on the best available information as of August 20th and may be subject to change.
Timeline
Week of August 19th
Backfilling of curbs and grading of the cycle track will be completed at night
Week of August 26th
Remaining concrete to be poured for islands, boulevards, sidewalk, curb tie-ins, etc. This work must be completed during daytime hours.
Week of September 2nd
The cycle track and curb cuts will be paved. This work must be completed during the day. If schedules and weather permit, this work may be completed during the week of the 26th.
Week of September 9th
Landscaping work will commence for topsoiling, sodding, plantings, etc. Remaining interlock hardscaping will also be completed. This work is expected to have minimal impacts on vehicle traffic, will occur during the day, and is likely to take more than a week to fully complete.
FAQs
Why is work not being undertaken at all times?
Due to concerns raised by the community, efforts have shifted to prioritize night work where possible to minimize traffic impacts on commuters. Additionally, crew availability, work by third parties (such as Hydro Ottawa and communication service providers), and weather all have an impact on work.
During some days, there has been impacts to traffic due to work. Why is this the case?
Some work cannot be completed during the night; though Cavanaugh and other contractors working on behalf of Caivan have made significant efforts to conduct work during night shifts, there are some activities that must occur during the day, such as exterior curb pouring. This work resulted in some daytime lane reductions last week.
Why have there been delays recently?
Projects are contingent on weather, crew availability, and a variety of other factors. Switching to night work has had scheduling impacts as well.
Cavanaugh has noted that the remaining asphalt paving cannot be scheduled until Hydro Ottawa and the communication companies have raised their lines crossing Meynell. Currently, it is estimated that this work will be completed in mid-September.
Will this work impact the return to school this fall?
Our office has stressed to the project manager the importance that every effort must be made to minimize lane closures during daytime hours, particularly peak hours.
Most of the work expected to be undertaken in the fall is landscaping work or work that can be completed at night. Cavanaugh’s project manager has communicated to us that the impacts on peak hour traffic, including school traffic, are expected to be minimal as a result.
When is the project expected to be completed?
While subject to change, based on the information available to us at this time, we expect that all work should be completed during September, with the work most likely to have traffic impacts being largely completed by late August or the first week of September.