Hillcrest Avenue reconstruction

Thanks you to everyone who attended the Public Information Centre on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. For those who were unable to attend, the presentation boards and information booklet have been uploaded for residents to read and review.

Please be advised that the City of Waterloo and its engineering consultant for this project, GM Blueplan Engineering, will be holding a Public Information Centre (PIC) meeting to provide information to local residents about the planned reconstruction of Hillcrest Avenue in 2024. Details regarding the date and location of the PIC are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Time: 5 - 7 p.m.

Place: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Elementary School – Gymnasium (enter school from main doors off Roslin Ave.)

55 Roslin Avenue South, Waterloo

The PIC provides interested residents with an informal forum to review the preliminary design plans, ask questions of City and engineering consultant staff, and learn more about the overall project scope and schedule. Subject to receipt of all technical and financial approvals, construction of this project is tentatively scheduled to occur from mid-April 2024 to Fall 2024.

The City encourages all interested residents to attend the PIC to learn about the scope and timing of the improvements, how access will be provided during construction, how mail delivery and waste collection service will be maintained, and how they will receive further information about the project prior to construction.

Residents should be aware that vehicular access to both the roadway and private properties is often restricted during construction activities. Construction will be completed under “road closed – local access only” conditions and primarily between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Residents with special needs including mobility issues, those who require frequent deliveries or frequent access to their property, or similar requirements are encouraged to attend to begin discussions regarding accommodation. If attendance is not possible, please contact the City’s Project Manager (contact information below) at your earliest opportunity. The Contractor and site inspectors will attempt to accommodate residents to the best of their ability while not compromising the safety of the construction zone. However, certain circumstances may require additional discussion and planning; advanced notification allows for alternative arrangements to be made.

Topics of interest to residents and frequently discussed at PICs include:

• identifying trees that may be removed;
• alternative parking locations when access to the road and/or private driveways is restricted;
• City standards for replacing sanitary and water service;
• measures to be implemented to mitigate impacts to landscaped features on private property;
• waste collection procedures during construction;
• City standards for replacement of driveway accesses within the municipal right-of-way and measures to be implemented to mitigate impacts to private driveways;
• potential requirements for access to private property in order to replace water and sanitary service laterals and associated disturbances; and;
• City policy regarding restoration of boulevard areas that contain landscaping completed by residents.
  
  *Note: The boulevard is defined as the space between the edge of a roadway and the property line. Along Hillcrest Avenue, the property line is located approximately 2.70 metres behind the back edge of the existing sidewalk.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this project and cannot attend the PIC, please contact the City’s Project Manager.

In the initial notice regarding the reconstruction of Hillcrest Avenue, it was noted that additional information would be provided regarding policies for landscaping and hardscaping features that are placed within the public right-of-way.

The City recognizes and appreciates the landscaping work of property owners to maintain their property. Unfortunately, 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 (i.e. decorative fencing, posts, lights, edging, etc.), retaining walls or other material on municipally-owned land that is necessary to reconstruct public infrastructure.

In general, private alterations to the City’s boulevard are prohibited, with the exception of certain landscaping that complies with section 5.5 of By-law 2014-054, a By-Law to Regulate Work on Highways and Boulevards.

As reference, the city-owned boulevard on Hillcrest Avenue typically extends to approximately 2.70 metres (~8 feet, 10 inches) beyond the edge of sidewalk towards private residences. Please contact us if you require assistance in locating the property line in front of your residence.

During a road reconstruction project, the city will address private landscaping on city property in the following manner:

• Advanced notice prior to construction will be provided via mail and on Engage Waterloo, so that residents have an opportunity to remove and/or salvage any landscaping features you wish to reinstate after construction (i.e. where the landscaping complies with the requirements of Section 5.5, such as herbaceous plants less than 45 cm in height or inorganic ground cover less than 19 mm in diameter, etc.).
• Advance notice of the start of construction will be provided via mail to affected residents in the late winter/early spring of 2024. This will contain the anticipated start date of construction and provide a final opportunity for you to remove and/or salvage any landscaping you wish to reinstate after construction. Construction is currently anticipated to commence mid-April 2024.
• Any landscaping not removed prior to the start of construction may be damaged and/or removed, if necessary, by the city contractor. As part of the reconstruction the city will reinstate boulevards with topsoil and sod but will not replace, or reimburse costs for, any private landscaping removed prior to or damaged during construction. Any owner who subsequently places landscaping in the city-owned boulevard does so entirely at his or her own risk.
• If the existing landscaping consists of hardscape features, such as concrete, masonry, or wooden edging around planting beds, low-height retaining walls, decorative light stands, fences, etc., please contact the project manager (undersigned below) as soon as possible to discuss in further detail. As stated above, the City will not replace, or reimburse costs for, any private landscaping/hardscaping in a city-owned boulevard that is left in place and damaged during construction. However, dependent on the specific items/locations and anticipated construction impacts, the city may be able to assist in removing or relocating (to private property) these features as part of the road reconstruction work.

The policies above apply to landscaping/hardscaping and do not apply to paths of travel needed for access to the property. Driveways, walkways and other hard surfaced paths of travel from private to public property will be re-instated as close as practicable to existing conditions after construction.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to renew the public infrastructure on Hillcrest Avenue.

The City of Waterloo is pleased to introduce GM BluePlan Engineering Limited as the engineering consultant selected to complete design and contract administration services for the reconstruction of Hillcrest Avenue.

GM BluePlan’s topographic survey crew will be in the area on various days during the period of June 19 to July 7, 2023. In order to gather the required details, the survey will include the frontage of your property as well as the street. The purpose of this survey is to locate all existing features (trees, gardens, steps, walkways, etc.) on the plans for preliminary study and engineering design. The surveyors should not interfere with your regular activities but will identify themselves if you have any questions.

Please be advised that the City of Waterloo has scheduled the reconstruction of Hillcrest Avenue, from Alexandra Avenue to William Street West. Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2024, subject to Council’s approval. The map shows the approximate area of reconstruction:

As part of the reconstruction, all underground municipal infrastructure will be replaced, including sanitary sewer, storm sewer and watermain. Sanitary and water service laterals will be replaced up to the common property line. Surface works will include new concrete curb and gutter, new sidewalks, and a new pavement structure. Areas disturbed by construction, such as walkways, driveways and grassed areas will be restored to City standards. Please note that the City standard for boulevards within the public right-of-way is topsoil and sod. Private landscaping by residents within the public portion of the boulevard will not be replaced by the City.

The City is in the process of procuring an engineering consultant to provide design and construction administration services for the duration of the project. Residents may also notice various tasks being completed in advance of construction such as topographic surveying and geotechnical drilling and soil sampling.

Please note the following important information at this stage:

Notify the City’s Project Manager if you have any mobility challenges. During construction, driveway access is generally unavailable during working hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Sidewalks will be maintained to the extent feasible when driveway access is not available. However, there will be times when even sidewalk access is impacted. Knowing any existing challenges in advance will help plan for specific needs.

Hold off replacing driveways or walkways. Construction will result in the ends of driveways and walkways being removed and patched at the end of construction. Waiting to replace driveways and walkways until after construction will avoid the need to cut into new pavement.

Image showing asphalt driveway that has been patched next to the sidewalk following construction.

Concrete driveway that has been patched next to sidewalk following construction

Begin moving landscaping plants out of the public right-of-way if you wish to keep them. City property extends to approximately 2.70 metres (9 feet) beyond the back of sidewalk. This space will be disturbed during construction. Any landscaping or hardscaping in this space will not be replaced by the City following construction. More information on this subject will be provided in subsequent notices.

Over the coming months several on-site activities will be completed in support of engineering design, such as topographic surveying, geotechnical drilling and hydro-excavation. The topographic survey team will need access to your property but should not interfere with your regular activities. The surveyors will identify themselves if you have any questions. The drilling crew that will perform the geotechnical investigation to assess soil and groundwater conditions will not need access to private property and will work entirely within the public right-of-way. The drill rig should only be on-site for 1-2 days and may generate short bursts of high pitched noise.