Traffic

Project Value: $8 Million

The City of Barrie initiated two Class Environmental Assessments (EA) in the downtown and BTE completed the two Class EAs under one assignment. The first EA was for the widening of Bell Farm Road (a major collector road) with improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. The work included investigation and evaluation of intersection configurations and roadway cross section improvements for both vehicular and active transportation. The project recommendations included: buffer bicycle lanes, sidewalks, continuous two-way left-turn lane, low impact development (LID) stormwater infiltration pond, utility relocations, lighting, pedestrian crossover, landscaping, low height retaining structures and visual screening (fencing along residential frontage). The land use surrounding Bell Farm Road is a mix of residential, commercial and industrial. All environmental and regulatory agency approvals were obtained and construction was initiated in 2020. Construction was completed in the fall of 2022.

The second EA was for the proposed widening and realignment of Ross Street (downtown arterial roadway) with improvements for pedestrians and cyclists as well as intersection improvements for the intersection of Ross Street, Collier Street and Bayfield Street.

The study has evaluated both rehabilitation and rapid replacement technologies for 7 bridges along the Ottawa Queensway. The study included rigid frame structures at Metcalfe Street, Elgin Street and Main Street and the bridges crossing the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site. The focus of the study was to test the construction timelines for replacement within the duration of a weekend for closures of the Queensway.

This was a high-profile preliminary design study including consultation with Parks Canada, the NCC and City of Ottawa and a project web site for the public. Tasks included: detailed environmental investigations, PICs, TESR and all other requirements of the Class EA. The structural tasks included condition survey and review of all previous structural investigations, structural evaluations of 7 structures and review of seismic capacity of the 3 span Rideau Canal Bridge structures, review of conventional and rapid rehabilitation alternatives, rapid replacement alternatives for rigid frame bridges, and jack and slide alternatives for the Rideau Canal. Structural design reports, structural investigation reports and holding strategies were prepared for each bridge. The highway planning team carried out the following tasks: design criteria, scope and cost report, property requests, highway widening design and ramp extensions and assessment of traffic staging for conventional and rapid replacement projects and preliminary design report. Traffic modelling using Vissim and Syncro was documented in a Traffic Staging Report.

Project Value: $8 Million

As part of the previous environmental assessment completed by BTE, the long-term planning for the James A. Gifford Causeway (Causeway) included the widening of the cross section to function as protection of the embankment. The design included a 9 m wide rock fill platform, extension of existing equalization culverts and fish habitat/environmental protection features including lunker structures, stump structures and vegetated boulder revetments. The design was extremely unique due to the muck bottom of Chemong Lake and geotechnical concerns with settlement both in the short and long term. Additionally, the rock fill widening required coastal consultation to mitigate and protect for wave action and washout of the widened platform.

Extensive environmental consultation was undertaken with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Curve Lake First Nation (CLFN) as the Causeway embankment was identified as key spawning habitat for Walleye. A Fisheries Act Authorization was secured for the work (the largest for DFO at the time) which included fisheries monitoring pre, during and post construction with CLFN staff to assess the impacts of the construction on spawning. BTE also completed all construction administration and general/environmental inspection for the project.

Project Value and Duration: EA Fees: $1 M, Duration: 2014-2021

BTE has delivered services to the Town and County for several contracts for the widening and future extension of McNeely Avenue. The initial 4-laning of McNeely from Lake Avenue to north of Highway 7 was constructed in 2007 and the next phases will extend McNeely Avenue and bypass Highway 7 through growth areas to the south of Highway 7 by constructing a new arterial connection to Highway 15 (to be named Captain Roy Brown Boulevard). The extensions involve 3 contracts. The values of the 4 contracts are: 2007 $2 million, 2015 $ 2 million, 2017 $8 million and future industrial park $3 million.

The contracts included: Municipal Class EA and addenda; Preliminary and Detail Design of both rural and urban designs of 2 and 4 lane roadways; 2-lane industrial park roadway; MTO Highway 15 signalized intersection; three creek crossings; three McNeely Avenue signalized intersections; and three separate 2-lane roundabouts including project phasing of works, traffic staging, utility relocations, supporting cost sharing agreements, drainage, municipal services and roundabout design.

The project included: four traffic signals; preliminary and detail design included traffic staging, major hydro utility relocations, and cost sharing; agreements with adjacent developers; a Technical Advisory Committee; Council presentations (Town and County); Open Houses including Pre Open House events for Council briefings; individual property owner meetings; requirements of the Municipal Class EA and MTO Provincial Class EA; pavement design; roundabout design; stormwater quality management plan and water crossing of Lavallee Creek tributary; pedestrian recreational trail and pedestrian bridge over Lavallee Creek; and illumination and signal interconnection.