Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Ottawa’s transportation committee has approved a plan to add a bike lane in each direction on Bank Street between Riverside Drive westbound and Chesley Street, including on Billings Bridge.
That means the section of Bank Street will be reduced from two to one through lane for vehicles to accommodate the new cycling infrastructure. The plan also adds a southbound right-turn-only lane approaching Riverside Drive westbound and a northbound through/right-turn lane approaching Riverdale Avenue.
The city plans to permanently remove 14 on-street parking spaces on Bank Street between Cameron and Riverdale Avenues.
Council will vote on the recommendations on Sept. 13.
Work is part of the Bank Street Renewal project and the additional cost for cycling and transit improvements would be funded through existing budgets.
The vision for the Bank Street project is to construct a functioning and safe complete arterial main street with a well-balanced multi-modal transportation network which will cater to vehicles, transit, cyclists and pedestrians. Work includes:
- Full road reconstruction on Bank Street between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue that includes cycle tracks in both directions and protected intersections.
- Introduction of full height and mountable curb medians along sections of Bank Street.
- Implement streetscaping features along Bank Street, including but not limited to new street furniture, streetlights, trees, concrete sidewalks, grassed sections and paver stones.
- Reconstruction of sanitary sewer, storm sewer and replacement of distribution watermains within the project limits.
- Review and improve bus stop and bus shelter locations.
- Renewal of Bank Street Sawmill Creek culvert.
Construction is under way on Phase 1A (Bank Street Renewal Advanced Miscellaneous Works) and is scheduled to be completed in late 2023. For details on the construction, visit the new website.
