Seven LRT Construction Claims Paid Out

02/26/2025

This is a release from the City of Ottawa:

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On October 24, 2024, the Transportation Committee, through motion TRC-2024-15-01, directed staff to conduct a review of road closures occurring over 2023 and 2024 resulting from construction activity for the Stage 2 LRT East Extension project. Staff were also directed to provide the number of associated claims submitted by the public over this same period. In accordance with the motion, findings are being presented by the Transit Services Department to Mayor and Members of Council through this memorandum.

DISCUSSION

Number of Road Closures

The Rail Construction Program in the Transit Services Department and the Stage 2 east-west constructor Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci analyzed the information requested by the Transportation Committee and have provided a summary of the number of closures related to the Stage 2 East Extension in 2023 and 2024.

As part of the Stage 2 East Extension project, works include construction of the guideway and stations within the median of Highway 174, along with realignment of the highway to accommodate these works. While City staff endeavor to limit the number, extent and impact of road closures as much as possible, the location of the LRT guideway and stations in the median of Highway 174 presents a unique challenge, requiring traffic closures to safely access stations and the guideway through the Highway 174 corridor from Blair Road to Trim Road.

Road closures can be partial closures or full closures. Partial closures include sidewalk, shoulder and/or lane closures, which maintain some flow in the direction of travel. Full closures are complete closures in a single direction of travel. For full closures, alternate detours are provided. All full closures and the majority of partial closures are done in off-peak hours to reduce impacts to the travelling public.

2023 Road closures

Partial closures
Full closures
Highway 174 Westbound
174
14
Highway 174 Eastbound
144
8
Municipal Roads
113
35
Total
431
57

2024 Road closures

Partial closures
Full closures
Highway 174 Westbound
318
26
Highway 174 Eastbound
262
22
Municipal Roads
65
11
Total
645
59

All of these closures facilitated critical work essential to ensuring long-term improvements to the highway and surrounding infrastructure, including highway realignment and paving, construction of bridges and stations, bridge rehabilitations, overhead sign installations, drainage and ditching operations, ramp realignments, sidewalk and multi-use pathway construction, and other

connectivity enhancements.

In 2023, the primary focus of the project was completing the LRT guideway work within the median of Highway 174. During this phase, traffic impacts were primarily limited to long-term full highway shifts where the lanes of highway traffic remained open, but their location was moved to accommodate new construction, including the stations and the guideway, as well as improvements to existing infrastructure.

As most of the guideway work was completed by 2024, construction activities shifted to completing all roadway and highway civil works outside the guideway, resulting in a higher number of traffic closures compared to the previous year.

Traffic Closure Management Process

Traffic closures for the Stage 2 East Extension follow a robust traffic management plan with strict criteria, as outlined in the Project Agreement with Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci (the PA). This plan follows many of the City’s typical traffic management protocols.

The Rail Construction Program works in partnership with Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci to address road closures, in accordance with Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act (Ontario Traffic Manual – Book 7) and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) standards. Highway 174 work is also restricted to nights, weekends, or off-peak hours, depending on the level of disruption, which limits the time available to complete the work efficiently.

Stage 2 LRT traffic closure details, including configuration and timing, are managed internally with the Rail Construction Program construction and stakeholder teams, and coordinated with other stakeholders internal to the City including OC Transpo, Traffic Services, and Emergency and Protective Services.

The PA establishes when closures are to occur, often requiring closures to be repeatedly set up and taken down to comply with Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. All costs related to closures are borne by Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci, including developing traffic control plans and setting up and taking

down closures. In addition, the PA includes strict clauses and financial implications for closures that extend into peak-hour traffic.

Closures are monitored by the Rail Construction Program to confirm compliance with approved traffic plans. In case of violation, non-compliance reports can be issued to the contractor and fines applied as applicable. Traffic operations are monitored City-wide by staff in Traffic Services, including the road network impacted by Stage 2 LRT construction. Where possible, adjustments are made to optimize traffic signal operation, maximize traffic flow, and reduce the impact on residents.

Communicating Traffic Closures

Staff acknowledge the significant impact the construction activities and traffic impacts associated with Stage 2 have on the residents of east Ottawa, Orléans and Cumberland and have a robust communications strategy in place to keep residents informed.

Traffic impacts due to Stage 2 LRT construction are divided into three categories: critical closures, major closures, and medium closures.

• Critical closures include peak period closures on Highway 174 and major roadways, as well as multi-day closures on Highway 174 or major roadways (including weekends).

• Major closures include peak period lane closures on Highway 174 or major roadways, off peak full closures of Highway 174 or major roadways and peak period full closures on ramps.

• Medium closures include off-peak or overnight lane closures on Highway 174, major roadways and ramps.

The communication strategy for closures is adjusted to correspond with the level of impact. Notice is provided to the public at least five business days in advance of critical closures, at least three business days in advance of major closures, and at least one business day in advance of medium closures. Public notices are not issued for overnight or off-peak lane reductions.

These notices are provided by a dedicated Stage 2 stakeholder relations team, who also engages with the Rail Construction Program, Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci, Councillors and the public to discuss and proactively identify concerns related to impactful works. As noted above, notices of impactful work, including road closures, are distributed in advance through various channels, including the Stage 2 e-newsletter, updates to OC Transpo’s website, through City Traffic PSAs, social media posts, media and Councillor outreach, electronic maps with detours and on-site message boards installed by the contractor to inform drivers of upcoming traffic impacts. Digital signage is also installed by the contractor on affected roadways in advance of the closure.

The Rail Construction Program and the stakeholder relations team regularly meet with east-end Councillors and their offices to provide a lookahead of upcoming traffic impacts and to discuss and proactively address potential issues. Stage 2 staff also work with Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci to provide a yearly lookahead presentation to outline major work and anticipated impacts for the year, which are then published to OC Transpo’s website and the Stage 2 e-newsletter.

Summary of claims related to O-Train Line 1 East Extension construction

If a resident or road user believes that damage to their property (home, vehicle, or other) has occurred due to the Stage 2 Project, they are able to submit a claim through Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci Claims. Since the start of 2023, Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci has received 45 claims. Kiewit Eurovia-Vinci contacted each of the claimants asking them to complete an initial form with details about the

claim. Thirty-one of the claims were investigated, with the other 14 being paused due to lack of response from the claimant. Seven of these claims were paid out after investigation.

The City of Ottawa and the Rail Construction Program appreciate the patience that residents have shown throughout this project despite these impacts and are looking forward to delivering light rail transit to east Ottawa, bringing residents of Orléans, Blackburn Hamlet, and Beacon Hill within five kilometres of light rail.

Original signed by

Richard Holder

Cc: Senior Leadership Team

Transit Services Departmental Leadership Team

Andrea Lanthier-Seymour, Chief Communications Officer, Public Information and Media Relations