Notice of Start of Construction - Phase 1

Virtual Public Information Centre 2 – Notice of Start of Construction

Welcome to the City of Waterloo’s second virtual Public Information Centre (“PIC”). The purpose of the second PIC is to notify residents of the start of construction and provide additional information regarding the project. Due to COVID-19, a formal in-person PIC will not be held. Instead, the city has prepared the information contained herein for review. Most of the information contained herein will also be contained in a mailed notice to residents regarding the start of construction and this virtual PIC.

The City of Waterloo is pleased to announce that it has procured Oxford Civil Group Inc. to complete the reconstruction of Herbert Street from George Street to Union Street East. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start on or about Monday June 6, 2022. The project will be phased over two years. The section from George Street to John Street East will be completed in 2022 and from John Street to Union Street East in 2023.

This update contains further information on the scope of work, scheduling, phasing and other important information regarding what to expect during construction. All information provided is also included in the information package contained in the mailout provided to residents affected by construction. The city recommends keeping the hard copy of the information package throughout the project so that it can be referred to as needed. If you misplace your hard copy of the information package or did not receive one, you can download a copy of it from the Project Library section of this page.

Please note that reconstruction projects of this nature often have a number of uncertainties. Certain information in this update such as dates, schedules and phasing can change as the project progresses based on weather, the availability of subcontractors, previously unknown conditions beneath the surface, etc.

Scope of Work

The general scope of work includes the partial reconstruction of Herbert Street between George Street and Allen Street East, and the full reconstruction of Herbert Street from Allen Street East to Union Street East. For the partial reconstruction of Herbert Street between George and Allen, the work includes:

• Replacement of storm sewer, and partial replacement of sanitary sewer (mid-block to Allen)
• Replacement of the curb and gutter, asphalt road and concrete sidewalk (as required to facilitate replacement of storm and sanitary sewer’s)
• Replacement of driveway ramp entrances (as required to facilitate replacement of storm and sanitary sewer’s)
• Restoration of disturbed areas

For the full reconstruction of Herbert Street between Allen and Union, the work includes:

• Replacement of the existing sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and watermain
• Replacement of sanitary, water and (where applicable) storm service laterals from the main to the property line.
• Replacement of the curb and gutter, asphalt road and concrete sidewalk
• Replacement of driveway ramp entrances
• Restoration of disturbed areas

Residents can download and review the construction drawings (16MB) from the Project Library. [NOTE: the preliminary construction drawings have now been replaced by the final construction drawings.] Construction drawings are not accessible, if you would like to access this information in an alternate format, please contact the city's project manager.

Project Limits, Phasing and Schedule

The project limits are from George Street to Union Street East, and will be phased to occur over two construction seasons:

• Phase 1: George Street to John Street (2022)
• Phase 2: John Street to Union Street (2023)

Phase 1 is tentatively scheduled to start on or about Monday June 6th, pending completion of natural gas infrastructure upgrades and relocation of overhead utility poles. Phase 1 will be completed in Fall 2022. Phase 2 will commence late April 2023 and be completed in Summer 2023.

Please note that the construction schedule is subject to change due to site conditions, extreme weather, changes to the contract, council approvals, etc.

Figure 1 - Herbert Street reconstruction extents and phasing map

Who Will be Doing the Work?

Construction will be completed by a private contractor, Oxford Civil Group Inc., selected through the city’s public tender process.

Vibrations and Pre-Construction Condition Assessment

Residents will likely feel some vibrations during the routine operation of construction equipment; however, studies have shown that the vibrations to be experienced are much less than the vibration level required to cause structural damage. We do recommend that you remove light, fragile or delicate objects from shelves when construction activity is taking place adjacent to your property.

Prior to the start of construction, a pre-construction condition assessment of the homes adjacent to construction activities will be completed. This survey typically includes the visual inspection and photographing of the foundation and other features both inside and outside of your home to establish baseline conditions in the unlikely event that damage is caused during construction. Further information regarding the pre-construction condition assessment and how to book the inspection will be provided in a separate notice to residents from the firm undertaking the inspections on behalf of the contractor and the city.

Vehicle Access and Parking

Throughout the majority of construction, residents within the active construction stage will not have access to their driveways or be able to traverse the road during contractor working hours. These are typically between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday, however may go later or occur on weekends depending on progress. Residents will be required to move their vehicles out of their driveway and onto neighbouring streets during this time. Residents will frequently, but not always, have access to their driveway in the evening and on weekends. Although vehicular access to private property may be possible, it’s considered to be at your own risk as you will be traveling through a construction zone.

During later stages of construction, you will not have access to your driveway for many days in a row. This is typically due to the time required to place and cure concrete for the curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and driveway aprons. At this time, residents may be able to park on the street in front of their residence in the evening or on weekends.

During times when you do not have vehicular access to your property, or if you do not wish to travel through the construction zone, you will be able to park on neighbouring streets with the use of an on-street parking permit that will be provided to residents by the city. This permit allows for unlimited parking during the day and overnight parking; however, residents must still abide by all other parking restrictions (i.e. no parking in front of fire hydrants, no parking where parking is already prohibited, etc.). The parking passes will specify where residents are permitted to park.

Residents will be provided two parking passes prior to the start of construction for each phase. If additional passes are required, please contact the city’s project manager.

Occasionally some accommodation can be made for residents who require vehicular access in and out of their driveway during working hours for deliveries of medical supplies or to attend medical appointments, however the city and/or contractor will require advance notice to determine what accommodation can be provided. Please notify the city’s project manager of any special accommodation you may have regarding vehicular access to your property. Failure to provide sufficient advanced notice may result in access not being available.

Vehicle Access Following a Rain Event

During the reconstruction of underground infrastructure, which accounts for the majority of the construction period, the contractor will be excavating and backfilling soil on the road. The contractor will fill excavations at the end of the day and grade the road to provide access and maintain drainage; however the constant turning of soil means that the surface of the road will not have a compacted granular surface and will be susceptible to becoming impassable due to muddy conditions following a rain event. The likelihood of this occurring depends on a number of factors such as the underlying soil type in the neighbourhood, grade of the road and presence of any local low point. The severity is similarly variable from road to road.

Residents are advised to keep an eye on weather forecasts and move their vehicles onto an adjacent street in advance of any large rain events, especially if the rain event is on the weekend or coincides with a time where timely access to a vehicle is critical.

Sidewalks and Pedestrian Access

Pedestrian access to all properties will be maintained at all times, although periodic disruptions may occur for short durations. In general this will be accomplished by leaving as much of the sidewalk in place for as long as possible. Sections of sidewalk will need to be removed as construction progresses in order to replace water and sanitary service laterals. Where the concrete sidewalk panels need to be removed, the contractor will provide a level, gravel walking surface for pedestrians.

On Herbert Street, the sidewalk will also need to be closed to install certain underground infrastructure such as storm sewer and watermain. In this case the sidewalk will be closed for a longer duration and residents may be required to cross the road to access the sidewalk on the other side, or walk in the boulevard behind the sidewalk. Please note that the first 2 metres behind the sidewalk is city owned public land.

The city can make accommodations for those with special mobility needs, but only if the needs are known in advance. Please notify the city’s project manager of any special needs you may have regarding access to your property.

Water and Sanitary Sewer Services During Construction

To maintain water service during construction, a temporary watermain will be constructed. It will consist of a plastic pipe running along the surface in front of your property and will connect to your existing water service at the property line. As the system is built at ground surface, it is susceptible to damage from normal landscape maintenance activities. To avoid unnecessary shutdowns of your water service during the project, please take care when working around the temporary water service, especially when mowing the lawn.

Sewer and water service will be maintained throughout the duration of construction. However, short interruptions can be expected, particularly when installing or dismantling the temporary watermain or when sanitary services are transferred from the existing sewer to the new sewer. In the majority of cases, interruptions will be limited to a few hours and will occur during normal working hours. Advance notification will be provided prior to any planned service interruption.

Minimizing Disruption

Road reconstruction and underground servicing is disruptive and at times will create noise, vibration and dust. To minimize noise and vibration disruption, construction activity is limited to daylight hours between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. To minimize dust, water and calcium chloride will be used for dust control.

Landscape Encroachments on City Property

The city recognizes and appreciates the landscaping work of property owners to maintain their property. Where landscaping extends onto municipal land, the city must exercise its right of access to complete essential construction activity. This includes the excavation of vegetation, topsoil, subsoils, hardscape features (e.g. lamp posts, irrigation/sprinkler systems), retaining walls or other materials on municipally-owned land that is necessary to reconstruction public infrastructure.

City staff note that many properties on Herbert Street have landscape encroachments onto city property. As noted in the previous two notices provided to residents residents will need to remove or relocate encroachments prior to the start of road reconstruction work, otherwise the plantings and hardscaping features may be removed and disposed of by the contractor and not replaced. When reinstating landscape encroachments, residents are advised to consult section 5.5 of City By-law 2014-054, a By-law to Regulate Work on Highways and Boulevards to determine what is permitted in city boulevards. For reference, on Herbert Street the city-owned boulevard extends between 2.1 and 2.7 metres (7 to 9 feet) beyond the edge of sidewalk towards private residences, depending on location.

Emergency Vehicle Access

Measurements will be in place to maintain emergency access at all times. Emergency Services will also be notified in advance of the road work.

Garbage, Blue Box and Green Bin Collection

Please continue to place your garbage, blue boxes and green bins at curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. for pickup as usual. If the garbage and recycling trucks are unable to travel on the roadway, the contractor will move these containers to the nearest intersection for pickup and return the bins to your property following pickup. Please use plastic garbage bags wherever possible and clearly mark returnable containers and bins with your address to assist the contractor in returning them to your property.

Deliveries

During construction, parcel delivery is frequently possible as the delivery service will have access to the sidewalk and/or boulevard during construction. However, not all parcel or delivery companies will deliver under all circumstances. For some parcel delivery companies, the decision of whether or not to deliver rests solely with the delivery person, based on safety considerations at the time of delivery. This can result in certain packages on the street being delivered and others not delivered on the same day due to different safety perceptions by the employees of the delivery companies. Residents are advised to consider theses factors when ordering packages for delivery.

All residents who receive deliveries of critical medical supplies are asked to communicate any specific delivery needs to the field inspectors in order to coordinate the safe and efficient delivery of goods and supplies.

Working from Home and Internet Access

Those who require internet access while working from home are advised to inform their employer of the construction and prepare contingency plans in the event that internet access is interrupted during construction. Interruptions to internet access are rare and typically result from strikes of non-located services, meaning they typically affect only one home at a time.

If there is an interruption to internet service please contact your internet service provider in addition to informing the construction foreman or the engineering consultant’s inspector. The contractor will notify the telecom utility of the service interruption as well, however previous experience indicates that the response is faster when the customer contacts the utility directly.

Electric Vehicles

An emerging trend is residents with electric vehicles. At this time the number of residents with electric vehicles on any given road reconstruction project is minimal and therefore the city does not have a standard plan for how to accommodate electric vehicles. If you own an electric vehicles that you rely on regularly please contact the city’s project manager to determine what accommodations are available.

Herbert Street Reconstruction – Field & After-Hours Contact Information