Request for Public Input Into the Environmental Assessment Report
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Request for public input into the environmental assessment report The Alexandra Bridge is owned by the Federal Government and operated/ maintained by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the National Capital Commission (NCC). HISTORY: The bridge was built in 1900. Last major rehabilitation was in 1975 when all traveled decks were replaced to accommodate the geometry that we know today. It was repainted in 1995-96. Since 1996 minor repairs are done 2 to 3 times a year. USES: The bridge is 575 meters long. The concrete center deck lane is used by traffic going to Ottawa and the downstream open steel grating deck is used by vehicles going to Gatineau (Hull). The upstream side wooden boardwalk is used by pedestrians and cyclists. THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION: The steel structure will be strengthened to counter the deterioration that has occurred with time and to retrofit the structure to a more recent and stringent bridge code with respect to seismic capacity. The concrete middle lane deck (going to Ottawa) will be removed and replaced. Damping mechanisms will be added to the structure to reduce its oscillation under particular loads. The wooden boardwalk will be removed and replaced. IMPORTANCE OF THE BRIDGE: The bridge carries 18000 vehicles/day (9000 vehicles per direction) which accounts for 10% of all daily Ottawa - Gatineau crossings. Therefore the other 4 inter-provincial bridges accommodate 90% of the crossings. Total inter-provincial crossings on 5 bridges are 180,000 per day. The bridge carries 1160 cyclists per day and 1800 pedestrians per day (in May). Of all inter-provincial bridges, the Alexandra Bridge has the highest uses for pedestrians and cyclists (very similar to Portage Bridge). Pedestrians and cyclists uses are significantly less on the other bridges (Macdonald-Cartier, Chaudières, and Champlain). PWGSC has access to 4 traffic counts on the 5 inter-provincial bridges done between 1999 and 2004. The bridge is a historic structure and located within a highly visible tourism area. It is located close to significant businesses, institutions, museums, and government offices. The Société de Transport de l'Outaouais (STO) uses the bridge for 155 bus routes per day. THE PROJECT TEAM: The project team is composed of a local consultant, McCormick-Rankin Corporation and managed by local PWGSC government officials familiar with the use of the bridge and the related surroundings and needs. McCormick- Rankin Corporation is familiar with rehabilitation within similar context having been a main consultant for the Laurier Street Bridge (a historic structure) rehabilitation over the Rideau Canal and the Champlain Bridge rehabilitation over the Ottawa River. ISSUES: The impact on all stakeholders created by the rehabilitation is an important issue. The stakeholders so far identified are: the museums, the neighbouring businesses, institutions, offices, boat operators, river operations, tourists, cyclists, pedestrians, general traffic, summer festivals, police forces, transit operators, traffic management groups from both cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, the NCC, etc. The importance of an inter-provincial bridge is crucial for the rush hour traffic, therefore traffic impact on the core areas of Ottawa and Gatineau will have a definite effect on the construction method available and selected for the rehabilitation. An environmental study has been completed to evaluate both ecosystem and socio-economic impacts of the construction process on the environment. The bridge is a historic structure and therefore the rehabilitation will have to respect its appearance, geometry and uses. A Communication plan is being implemented so that all stakeholders are informed and have a medium to express their concerns at an appropriate time. The costs for the rehabilitation will need to be kept within a respective envelope. The time constraints for the rehabilitation will be further developed with the design and once identified will need to be respected so that the impact on stakeholders are accepted as reasonable and implemented as proposed. OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED: The consultant engineer is mandated to investigate different rehabilitation options that will have different impacts to stakeholders. These options have been presented to the different committees including a traffic advisory group (for all modes) for comments and concerns so that all aspects (or constraints) of the different options are examined and in the end a preferred option be selected and further developed to full plans and specifications for tendering. The different options were presented at a public Open House in June 2005 to allow the general public an opportunity to comment on the project. CONSIDERATION: It is recognized that the Alexandra Bridge is a preferred cyclists and pedestrians route to be maintained. The rehabilitation project will have to give consideration to the high uses by cyclists and pedestrians. TIME FRAME: ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE In 2005 and 2006, studies, preliminary design, consultation, public open house were conducted. In 2007, approvals of construction funds will be sought and, if approved, plans and specifications for tendering will be developed. In 2008/09, construction will be conducted. Note that the schedule may change, depending on delivery/delays of certain project related activities. GOAL OF PROJECT TEAM for the request for public input into the environmental assessment: We, PWGSC, recognize that the traffic management plan around the construction (or vice versa: construction around traffic) will be an important driver of the construction method. The Environmental Assessment Report is being made available so that all stakeholders are informed and have a chance to comment before important decision are made. .