Info-Work: Temporary Pedestrian Detours along Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway in Downtown Ottawa

Smiths Falls (Ontario), January 18, 2018 – Investigative work on the Rideau Canal walls in downtown Ottawa will require temporary pedestrian detours along the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway near the Mackenzie King Bridge. The work will take place between January 24th and late February 2018, weather dependent.

The first phase of this work will require a closure on the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway in the area beginning just south of the Government Conference Centre and extending just south of the Laurier Ave. Bridge. The second phase of the work will require a closure beginning just south of the Laurier Ave. Bridge and extending just south of the Corktown Bridge. In both instances, a marked pedestrian detour will be in place and will be kept clear of snow and ice.

The investigative work will assess the conditions of the Rideau Canal’s concrete walls, as well as the subsurface soil conditions. The information gathered through this work will help with planning any required future repair work in this area. As the contractor will be using equipment to drill bore holes, the pathway near the work will be closed to pedestrians to ensure the safety of both workers and the public.

Parks Canada has worked closely with the National Capital Commission throughout the work to repair the Rideau Canal walls in downtown Ottawa. In this instance, the work near the Government Conference Centre will occur first to ensure there is no impact on Winterlude activities in this area. As the drilling will take place on land rather than from inside the Canal, the impact on the Rideau Canal Skateway should also be minimal.

The repair of the Rideau Canal walls in downtown Ottawa is part of Parks Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion investment over five years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway, and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada.

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work, please visit www.pc.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure or e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca to be added to our community engagement list.


Information:
Darryl Whitehead
External Relations Manager
Ontario Waterways
Parks Canada
darryl.whitehead@pc.gc.ca