Grove Avene Update

I understand the concern being expressed by some residents about the width of the renewed Grove Avenue and the subsequent outcome of buses occasionally riding up on the edge of the sidewalk to get by the combination of large snowbanks and parked cars. Despite some of the positives of the street and underground infrastructure renewal—including better drainage, tree preservation, calmed traffic and wider sidewalks—the street should have had another 0.5 to 1.0 metre in width designed in by staff, in my view. This is not just a problem for buses, but also for snowplows and other large vehicles. 

My team and I have had a chance to discuss this internally with city staff (after having several on site meetings with staff and residents) to ensure options are looked at for solving this. 

There are four options we have gone over:

1. Immediate action is being taken with enhanced snow removals, snow tucking-in, bus operator instructions for going slow through the last block of Grove, in particular, and the potential for a parking line to be painted on the street (when weather permits in the summer) to indicate where it is okay to park, and if the snow bank is too large then parking there will not be an option. 
2. If the above does not solve the problem in the future, then staff will look into a winter-only seasonal parking restriction for a portion of the last block of Grove closest to Bank Street, likely affecting about seven on-street parking spots.
3. Removing transit from the street is another option. This would be difficult for the surrounding community for several reasons. The service provided to the residential area in Old Ottawa South would be reduced with less coverage at a time when we have already seen cuts to other wards’ transit service. The infrastructure for the bus stops, bus boarding and bulb outs have all been installed on Grove for that purpose; it would come with the removal of the heavily utilized route 7 bus stop at Belmont and Bank, in addition to the removal of four other stops at Seneca/Glen, at Grove/Leonard, at Grove/Grosvenor and Grove/Bank. There is also a difficult intersection at Sunnyside and Bank with pedestrian priority measures and fewer vehicles getting through with the left-turn northbound. All of these complications mean that simply removing the bus is not an ideal outcome. As well, it would not solve the problem of larger vehicles having difficulty in the winter when cars parked far from the curb in the last block of Grove.
4. Re-doing the street in the last block to reconfigure the width of the street, which would have high capital costs. Nonetheless, I have asked city staff for these figures and what it would look like.

While the first option on this list is being implemented, I am awaiting further information from staff on the other options mentioned. As much as possible, people should avoid parking on the street if there is a large snowbank and they will stick out impeding other larger vehicles from passing, as is the case for many streets in the urban area during winter. Should these operational changes not solve the problem, staff have been tasked with reviewing a seasonal parking ban (for four months of the year in the last block) or removing transit from the street or re-doing the infrastructure.

Bank Street Canal Bridge Repairs—Update on Bank Street Northbound Lane Closure

The Bank Street Canal Bridge Repairs is a $1.6M rehabilitation of this historic concrete arch bridge over the Rideau Canal which was originally constructed in 1912. The work involves removal of poor-quality concrete from the underside of the bridge arch and replacement with new concrete facing. 

Due to the extent of the concrete removals currently underway beneath the east side of the bridge, the city has decided to temporarily close the easterly most traffic lane, east side cycling facility and east side sidewalk to ensure ongoing protection of the bridge and all road users until the permanent concrete facing can be installed.

It is anticipated that the lane closures will remain in place for the next four to six weeks.

One travel lane in each direction continues to be maintained across the bridge and the west side cycling and pedestrian facilities remain open during this period.

Additional repairs are scheduled this winter beneath the remaining bridge lanes. The project team is reviewing upcoming concrete removal and replacement sequencing that would reduce or eliminate the requirement for future lane closures during the remaining bridge repair work.

Additional updates will be provided as the work progresses.

Ministry of Transportation Queensway Bridge Replacement Update

Highway 417 has largely been restored to its original configuration between Island Park Drive and Metcalfe Street. Currently, two ramps remain closed: the eastbound off-ramp to Bronson Avenue and the westbound on-ramp from Lyon Avenue.

The Bronson Avenue ramp closure has been extended due to changes required for the traffic signals. Work is underway to finalize the design. A revised opening date will be confirmed once those discussions are complete, and the project website will be updated accordingly.

The Lyon Avenue ramp, which has been closed since 2021, will remain closed until spring 2026. Further review is required to address safety concerns before the ramp can be reopened. This ramp carries lower traffic volumes and drivers have adapted to nearby alternatives.

Noise barrier replacement work along sections of the south side of the Queensway has been delayed due to conflicts with underground watermain. The ministry is working with the contractor to determine the most efficient and cost-effective strategy for replacing these barriers in 2026.

The project website can be found here: Highway 417 Bridge Replacements and Highway Improvements. It will be updated next week to reflect the revised ramp timelines.

City Notice on the Brewer Pool Dehumidifier Project

The city has provided our office with the following notification about the Brewer Pool Dehumidifier Project:

This notice is to advise you that the Brewer Pool dehumidifier replacement project construction is delayed and will extend the current facility shutdown.

What: The existing dehumidifier, fan coils and pool filtration system at Brewer Pool have reached their end of life and are in need replacement. The replacement project is currently underway.

Why: The Dehumidifier equipment had longer production timelines than initially anticipated and corrective actions were required at the factory testing stage. Existing site conditions required additional review and coordination to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.

When: Pool shutdown is to be extended to March 2, 2026

Where: Brewer Pool, 100 Brewer Way

Who: The City of Ottawa has retained PSL Mechanical Contracting (Contractor) and VR Engineering (Design/Contract Administrator) to complete the work.

Della Wilkinson Becomes a Member of the Order of Canada

Capital Ward’s own Della Wilkinson has been appointed to the Order of Canada. Della is an active member of our community, currently serving as the Glebe Community Association’s Environment Committee Chair.

Della is a former RCMP research scientist. She revolutionized fingerprint detection, positioning Canada as a global leader in forensic identification. Her innovations and refined protocols enhanced safety and effectiveness at challenging crime scenes. As a mentor and a role model, she inspired a generation of forensic professionals with her dedication and contributions.

This award recognizes distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity.

Congratulations, Della!

Free Transit Ottawa—New Vision for Public Transit in Ottawa

Shawn will be joining Free Transit Ottawa at Irene’s Pub on Monday January 19 for an evening of music, speakers and community…and a lively discussion about the future of transit—and the future of free transit—in Ottawa.

Building off our success last month of securing free transit for people 18 years of age and younger (starting this summer), this event will focus on building a movement around a set of bold ideas that will deliver the transit this city deserves.

For more information, please visit freetransitottawa.ca/launch-party-a-new-vision-for-transit

Climate Fresk Citizens’ Workshops—Winter Lineup

You can’t change what you don’t understand.

Is it time to deepen your understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change? Are you ready to explore how you can respond in a meaningful and impactful way?

Whether you’re a climate novice or an expert, a Climate Fresk Workshop is for you. Join the ever-growing global community of 2.3+ million Freskers worldwide who have taken part in this engaging, collaborative learning experience.

Ottawa-based workshops – Dovercourt Winter Schedule:

⏰ All sessions run from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

• Thursday, January 22
• Thursday, February 19
• Tuesday, March 24
• Monday, April 13

Information and registration: www.eventbrite.com/cc/climate-fresk-citizens-workshops-in-ottawa-4806284

The organizers confidently promise participants an engaging, insightful, and potentially transformative experience.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Your Capital Ward

Photo by Susan Cartwright

If you have a photo you’d like to share in an upcoming bulletin, please send it to [email protected], with the subject line Your Capital Ward. Please give us your name for attribution…or tell us if you’d rather not have your name shared.

BottleWorks Can Help with Your Empty Bottles

If you have empty alcohol bottles that you can’t return to a Beer Store, BottleWorks can help.

BottleWorks is a social enterprise that employs youth facing barriers to employment in collecting empty alcohol bottles donated from businesses, residents, and bottle drives across Ottawa. BottleWorks can issue a charitable tax receipt for the value of the empties donated. The revenue generated by the social enterprise goes towards paid rotation-based employment of the youth, vocational skills development, and social supports. 100% of profits go towards the many programs and services offered by Operation Come Home.

While learning skills such as punctuality, team work, initiative and customer service, youth are paired with a social support worker who work together on the truck each day. Youth are able to bond with the social support workers and discuss issues as they go from stop to stop, as well as crack jokes and learn about the day-to-day intricacies and experiences of employment. BottleWorks social support staff also work with youth in building their resumes, finding future employment, and work to overcome other obstacles that they may be facing.

To schedule a pick-up or to see their bottle drive calendar, please visit www.bottleworks.ca.

Community-led Greening Initiatives and Gardening Program

Applications for the Community-led Greening Initiatives and Gardening Program will be accepted from January 5 to February 3. The program provides community groups with the opportunity to create or expand gardens and greening projects on City land. 

Following the review of applications received through this initial intake period, including consultation with the Ward Councillor,  project proposals that meet City approval criteria will be posted on Engage Ottawa for public consultation before final approval. Program resources and application information for the program are available on ottawa.ca/gardens.

As required under the federal Accessible Canada Act, OC Transpo must develop an accessibility plan in consultation with persons with disabilities. The current plan will conclude on May 31, 2026, and a new plan will come into effect on June 1, 2026.

The new accessibility plan will propose initiatives to identify, remove and prevent barriers across transit services, programs and facilities.

Residents are encouraged to share their experiences and ideas through a variety of accessible engagement opportunities, including virtual and in-person consultations and an accessible online survey available on Engage Ottawa from January 5 to February 8, 2026. Outreach will include persons with disabilities, community organizations, city staff and advisory committees.

Public consultation sessions:

• January 26, 2026, 1:00 to 2:30 pm — City Hall, Colonel By Room
• January 28, 2026, 6:30 to 8 pm — Virtual (Zoom)

To complete the survey, register and learn more, visit the Engage Ottawa page. Public feedback will help ensure Ottawa’s transit system continues to move toward greater accessibility for everyone.