Alexandra Avenue reconstruction

Thank you for your question. The driveway in question, along with all other driveways along the project limits, have been designed to match existing conditions or be improved. This driveway will see an improvement in the slope of the driveway apron.

In the image below, you can see a dashed line – this line indicates the existing ground. The solid lines indicate the proposed ground. You can see the proposed slopes are flatter than the existing ones, indicating improved driveway slopes.

Updated drawings will be provided once the contract has been awarded which will provide details of the boulevard widths, service locations etc. Tree removals are determined based off anticipated and actual impacts to the tree’s root systems. In some cases, trees are not able to be saved due to their location, however the City and its consultant engineering team have made every effort to reroute services and to install works using trenchless methods to limit impacts to trees. Trees can exist beside sidewalks, though typically the growth of the tree will heave the sidewalk panels, creating tripping hazards, so this is carefully managed to balance minimal impacts to trees with the longevity of City infrastructure.

Construction is tentatively expected to begin on May 31^st, but this is subject to change. We are currently working to award the contract to one of the bidders we received on the open tender which closed April 28^th. Once this contract is awarded, more information will be posted to this page to provide contact information, updated drawings, schedule information, and other important details relating to the upcoming construction.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your comments. The widening is being made to improve pedestrian usability and safety of the road. The City is reviewing the benefits against the cost of the enhanced sidewalk widths west of Melbourne and will ensure the correct decision is being made in this regard.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your comments. Referring to the sidewalk widening, the new sidewalk will generally follow the existing sidewalk alignment, and the widening will occur according to best fit. What this means is in some locations the widening will be on the house side, and other locations the widening will be on the road side, and yet others it might be a little bit of both ways. We will be making the decision on a case by case basis in order to impact the least amount of street features (utility poles, bell and tv pedestals, landscaping, trees etc). In general will aim to take the widening to the street side to impact driveway parking the least amount possible.

Referring to the parking location, specifically adjacent to the school, we understand that getting into the parking spaces may now take a little more driving and maneuvering. We expect these same movements were occurring in the current configuration so people could leave the neighbourhood. We are trading the maneuvers from after pick-up/drop-off for them happening before in order to have the children and the vehicles they are getting into/out of to be on the same side of the road. This reduces/eliminates road crossings for the children and parents. We understand Westmount is the major connector where vehicles come from, and also understand by the same logic Westmount is the same road most cars are driving towards.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your comment. In general, the driveway ramps will be replaced to match the width of the driveway on the private-side of the sidewalk, with a flare as required to aid in turning into the driveway.

The scope of this project and work only includes Alexandra Street. Neighbouring streets may be addressed with future work, and will be open for feedback as part of that process.

This tree was identified to us earlier in the project. City Forestry staff have inspected the tree and find it in need of pruning only. This work will be completed as routine maintenance work at the earliest opportunity

The power lines are not City owned infrastructure and therefore will not be replaced, buried or otherwise modified as part of this project.

As per City of Waterloo By-Law 2013-114, Section 8, Paragraph 8.6, “Where bituminous fibre pipe has been installed by the City and pipe failures occur, the City shall be liable for the costs of replacing as much of the bituminous fibre pipe where appropriate, considering the circumstances. Reinstatement of existing lawns, driveways, and walks will be undertaken by the City to the condition before the replacement. Trees or shrubs lost during the reconstruction will be replaced to a standard deemed appropriate by the City.”

In general terms, bituminous fibre pipe (aka black pipe) services will be replaced up to the face of the building. This may require access into the homes during construction to understand the connection to the internal plumbing and how best to replace or repair the existing black pipe service. 

The City has flagged a number of such services along the length of the project area. If you are aware that your sanitary service is black pipe, please respond to the coming PIC information with this information to ensure we account for this replacement during design.