Downtown Ottawa (Truck)

Tunnel Feasibility Study

7 September
2016

Background
Termination of joint NCC-MTO-MTQ
Environmental Assessment Study for
the Future Interprovincial Crossings,
2013
Consequently, major issue of truck traffic
on King Edward Avenue remained
unresolved

2014, MTO and City of Ottawa equally

co-funded the Downtown Ottawa
(Truck) Tunnel Feasibility Study,
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Study Purpose
Pre-Environmental Assessment study
to address the following issues:
Is it technically feasible to construct
a truck tunnel in the downtown
(from Macdonald-Cartier Bridge to
Highway 417)?
What would be the traffic demand?
Where would this tunnel be?

What is the order of magnitude

cost?
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Truck Traffic Data

Through truck traffic (65%) versus local
delivery truck traffic (35%); through
volume about 1,700 trucks
per day

 Current truck traffic volume remains

around 1,700 through trucks per day
and is not sufficient to justify a truckonly tunnel. However a mixed-use
tunnel would be well-used attracting
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Corridor Options Initial

Alignments

Initial Alignments South

End

Corridor Options

Evaluatio
n Criteria
Categorie
s
Feasibility Ratings
Red:
Low
Yellow: Moderate
Green: High
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10

Most Feasible Alternative

Questions

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Most Feasible Alternative

(contd)
Alignment and Depth
Highest geometric standard

Minimal impact on adjacent development

Shortest alternative leading to the Vanier
Parkway interchange (3.4 km long)
25 to 35 metres depth

Tunnel Cross-Section
Twin-bore tunnels carrying two traffic
lanes each
Emergency cross over passages

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Tunnel Cross Section

Options

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North Portal

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South Portal

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Conceptual Cost Estimate

Order of magnitude cost $1.7 B
to $2 B (2015 dollars)
Planning, design, construction,
project management,
contingency

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Other Issues
Dangerous Goods Consideration
Not recommended for passage through
tunnel
Better able to manage emergency
events on a surface roadway (versus in
a tunnel)

Citys Financial Context

Not included in the affordable capital
funding envelope, nor in the
operating/maintenance budget forecast
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to 2031

Recommendations
That the Feasibility Study be received
for information; and
That the Mayor contact the federal
and provincial governments to
discuss next steps regarding the
planning and implementation of a
Downtown Ottawa Traffic Tunnel.
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QUESTIONS

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