Notice to Property Owner – Update on Tunnel Construction
January 2014
Dear Property Owner/Tenant,
As you may already be aware, mining of the Confederation Line downtown tunnel has begun. The tunnel will be 2.5 kilometers long with three underground stations – Lyon Station, Parliament Station, and Rideau Station. Three roadheader machines using three main access points will be used to excavate the tunnel.
Tunneling operations are scheduled to take place on a 24 hour basis in order to meet the project schedule. During operations, Rideau Transit Group (RTG) will adhere to noise standards that are defined in the by-law amendment that it received from City Council in January 2013 and in the Confederation Line project contract.
Jawbreaker, the first roadheader has progressed over 100 metres since it started mining in early November 2013 from the West Portal, located off Commissioner Street, toward Lyon Station. It will also dig the cavern for Lyon Station, then progress eastward.
Crocodile Rouge began its work on November 21 at the East Portal, located on Waller Street near the University of Ottawa to dig west toward Rideau Station. It will also dig out the cavern for Rideau Station.
Chewrocka will enter the tunnel through the Central Shaft, located at Kent and Queen Streets. It is scheduled to begin digging in early January. It will dig east and also dig out the cavern for Parliament Station.
The method being used to excavate the tunnel was chosen as it minimizes road closures and limits surface-level construction, focusing the efforts underground. Expected tunneling progress is approximately 3 metres a day, and including the excavation of the station caverns the tunnel mining is scheduled to take up to 24 months. Construction of the tunnel and downtown stations is scheduled for completion in 2017.
RTG will be taking steps to monitor the potential impacts of tunnel excavation operations along the alignment. RTG and their sub-contractors thank you in advance for your cooperation.
If you have any questions about the tunneling operations, please feel free to contact me directly. For up to date information on light rail construction, visit
www.ottawa.ca/confederationline.
Thank you for your continued support of the Confederation Line project.
Theresa Mendler, Community Liaison
Rail Implementation Office, City of Ottawa
[email protected]
613-580-2424 ext. 25469