Keats Way: Tributary Channel to Clair Creek restoration & storm sewer bypass

Note: Construction updates are being provided as a courtesy to keep residents appraised of upcoming work. Due to the nature of construction, schedules can quickly change and residents should be prepared for unexpected changes.

The current plan for construction prior to December 25, 2024 is:

• Complete soft armouring by end of end of week (December 20).
• Continue with placement of topsoil behind new retaining walls.
• Install sod (grass) where progress and weather allow. Sod availability limited by weather at this time of year. Some areas slated for sod may need to wait until Spring 2025.
• Hydroseed areas designated to receive native grass seed mix.

The plan for work that may start prior to December 25, 2024, but likely completed in early January is:

• Installation of channel substrate material (riverstone) within the channel once retaining walls are complete.
• Once riverstone substrate installed, complete remaining retaining walls where gaps have been left for access.
• Finish any landscape restoration that is feasible, based on weather conditions.

Please note that the contractor may have crews working on Saturdays AND Sundays. The Contractor’s will not be working from December 25 to January 2 during their winter shutdown.

Some landscape restoration work will need to wait until Spring 2025, such as landscape plantings (i.e. shrubs and trees), restoration of fences and interlocking patios. Please contact the project manager if you have any questions regarding restoration on your property.

Note: Construction updates are being provided as a courtesy to keep residents appraised of upcoming work. Due to the nature of construction, schedules can quickly change and residents should be prepared for unexpected changes.

The current plan for construction over the two-week period from November 27 to December 11, 2024 is:

• Complete construction of the hard armoured (i.e. armour stone) retaining walls, with some areas left unfinished for access.
• Complete work in Clair Creek at east end of site by installing new riverstone base.
• Begin soft armoured retaining walls. Soft armour wall started behind 130 Keats Way Place, working west and turning south towards Keats Way.
• Possibly start installation of riverstone in channel behind residents.

Please note that the contractor may have crews working on Saturdays AND Sundayd moving forward.

Note: Construction updates are being provided as a courtesy to keep residents appraised of upcoming work. Due to the nature of construction, schedules can quickly change and residents should be prepared for unexpected changes.

To date, the contractor has been preparing the site by having precondition surveys completed for nearby residents, clearing staging/storage areas, isolating the work area, setting up dewatering equipment, removing easily accessible vegetation and removing some gabions (rock walls) for access.

The current plan for construction over the two-week period from November 14 - 27, 2024 is:

• Continue construction of the hard armoured (i.e. armour stone) retaining walls.
• Time permitting, topsoil and sod behind wall for residents between 118 and 128 Keats Way Place. Topsoil and sod for other locations to occur following completion of walls in those sections.

Please note that the contractor may have crews working on Saturday’s AND Sunday’s moving forward.

Note: Construction updates are being provided as a courtesy to keep residents appraised of upcoming work. Due to the nature of construction, schedules can quickly change and residents should be prepared for unexpected changes.

To date, the contractor has been preparing the site by having precondition surveys completed for nearby residents, clearing staging/storage areas, isolating the work area, setting up dewatering equipment, removing easily accessible vegetation and removing some retaining walls for access.

The current plan for construction over the two week period from October 30 to November 13, 2024 is:

• Removal of current walls and start construction of the hard armoured stone retaining walls.

Please note that the contractor may have crews working on Saturday’s going forward.

Note: Construction updates are being provided as a courtesy to keep residents appraised of upcoming work. Due to the nature of construction, schedules can quickly change and residents should be prepared for unexpected changes.

To date, the contractor has been preparing the site by having precondition surveys completed for nearby residents, clearing staging/storage areas, isolating the work area, setting up dewatering equipment, removing easily accessible vegetation and removing some retaining walls for access.

The current plan for construction over the two week period from October 7 to 18, 2024 is:

• Remove trees that require an arborist.
• Continue removing retaining walls for access.
• Finish installation of erosion and sediment control measures.
• Removal of current walls and start construction of the hard armoured (i.e. armour stone) retaining walls.

Please note that due to a narrower width in the stream at certain locations, some retaining walls on the north side of the channel between Glenridge and Keats Way Place must be removed for access. These areas will be restored with soft stone towards the end of construction.

The City of Waterloo would like to provide notice that the start of construction for the rehabilitation of the banks of the tributary channel to Clair Creek will begin on or about Monday September 23, 2024. The City has retained GMR Landscaping Inc. to complete construction. Residents may notice workers completing non-construction activities the week of September 16. These activities could include surveying or marking trees/limbs designated for removal.

Select residents will receive notices from a third party, hired by the contractor, to complete pre-construction condition assessments of properties abutting the drainage channel. These notices will contain contact information to setup an inspection date/time. Inspections consist of taking photos and videos of the interior and exterior of your house to establish a baseline condition in the event that there is a claim for any damages to your property as a result of construction. Residents can choose not to have their property inspected. If you choose not to have your property inspected, it's strongly recommended you take photos yourself in advance of construction.

Residents are reminded to remove any plantings near retaining walls that are designated for replacement. Please contact the project manager (contact information below) if you’re unsure whether these wire boxes on your property are designated for replacement or not.

For access, the contractor will need to remove any of the bridge’s residents have constructed across the channel. Residents are responsible for re-installing the bridges following construction.

The City of Waterloo would like to provide notice that the start of construction for the rehabilitation of the banks of the tributary channel to Clair Creek will begin in early September. The process to hire a contractor is nearly complete and further notice will be provided when a start date has been set.

The tributary channel runs through the rear yards of several properties on Keats Walk and Keats Way Place. In general, this work will not affect traffic, nor access to the cul-de-sacs, nor Keats Way itself.

The contractor responsible for installing the storm bypass last fall still has a few days of work to complete at the intersection of Keats Way and Karen Walk. The City and contractor will determine a date for this work, which may involve a partial or full road closure.

Updates during construction will be periodically posted on Engage Waterloo, so please subscribe to the webpage for this project:

Enbridge natural gas infrastructure upgrades near Keats Way and Keats Walk have been completed. The City’s contractor, Steed & Evans, can now complete the installation of the remaining storm sewer infrastructure that couldn’t be completed in the fall of 2023. Steed & Evans is currently working for the City on another project. When this project is complete, the crew will return to Keats Way and Karen/Keats Walk to finish the installation. This work will block the intersection for a few days. It's currently anticipated Steed & Evans will return late June, depending on progress on the other project.

The design phase of the channel rehabilitation component of the project is nearly complete. It is undergoing a final quality control check. Construction is anticipated to begin mid to late August. The work will be mostly within the rear yards of the properties that the channel flows through, however boulevards on Keats Way and elsewhere will likely be used for material storage and staging.

The City would also like to note to residents that there are a number of other projects that will be happening in the neighbourhood this construction season. These projects are unrelated to the storm bypass or channel rehab project and are managed by the City’s Utilities division:

Watermain repair under Clair Creek culvert, City Utilities, Water Operations – The watermain on Keats Way, running underneath the Clair Creek culvert, is broken. Due to redundancy in the water distribution network, this watermain does not need to be repaired immediately. This is important since the break is below the culvert which adds significant complications to the repair. Currently the repair is anticipated to be completed late August to early September.

Sanitary sewer replacement, Karen Walk (Helene Cres. To mid-block south of Helene Cres), City Utilities, Wastewater Operations – This sanitary sewer is in poor condition and replacement is needed to prevent future issues. This work is anticipated to begin in early July.

McDougall Road Service Installation – The roadway will be closed to install water and sewer services to new homes built on McDougall. Road closure anticipated for May 21 and 22, 2024.

The first two projects will be managed by the City’s Utilities division. The McDougall project will be completed with some City supervision. Please contact the Waterloo Service Centre with any question or concerns: (519) 886-2310

Enbridge has notified the City of Waterloo that construction to relocate a gas main that is in conflict with the proposed storm bypass sewer is tentatively scheduled to start the week of April 29, if underground locates and other permits can be obtained.

Enbridge has hired a contractor, Aecon, to install a new gas main under Keats Way and north along Keats Walk. The new gas main will run from the southwest corner of Keats Way and Karen Walk, north under Keats Way and north along the west side of Keats Walk until it connects to the existing gas main adjacent to 95 Keats Walk. We intend to maintain access to Keats Walk. Keats Way may be shutdown briefly, but we're looking at ways to maintain bus access.

As noted above, the gas upgrades are being completed by a contractor hired by Enbridge and all questions and complaints should be directed to Enbridge.

Once the gas main upgrades work is complete, the City’s contractor will schedule the installation of the final components of the storm bypass system at Keats Way and Karen Walk. An exact schedule will be shared once the schedule for Enbridge’s work is confirmed. This work will require the intersection of Keats Way and Karen Walk to be shutdown temporarily.

The project to rehabilitate the tributary channel to Clair Creek is progressing towards final design. Residents may notice City and consultant staff doing a walkthrough of the channel at some point during the week of April 29. Construction for the channel rehabilitation project is targeted to start mid-August pending completion of design and receipt of all regulatory approvals.

The curbs and sidewalks have been restored and roadway has been paved. Line painting is to be completed on Saturday December 9, 2023. Although the roadway is open to local traffic, the road will need to remain closed to through traffic a little longer before it can be re-opened. The following is a rough schedule for the week of December 11,2023:

Monday: Landscape restoration (topsoil and sod of disturbed boulevard areas).

Tuesday/Wednesday: No significant work expected. Possible minor cleanup, completion of landscape restoration not completed on Monday, etc.

Thursday: Use of crane to install low profile lid on maintenance hole at corner of Keats Walk and Keats Way.

Friday: Back filling soil around maintenance hole and final cleanup

The roadway will be re-opened following final cleanup, which is expected to be complete by end of day Friday the 15, 2023. The re-opening date is contingent upon the delivery date of the low profile lid for the maintenance hole. The current installation date is based on the delivery date provided by the precast concrete manufacturer but is subject to change.

Please note that due to unexpected conflicts with natural gas mains at the corner of Keats Way and Karen Walk, some components of the bypass sewer design could not be installed this fall. These components are not critical to the functioning of the storm sewer bypass but would be expected to improve performance. These components may be installed in 2024 following adjustment of natural gas infrastructure. Schedule to be confirmed.

Replacement of all malfunctioning water valves has also been completed. Any water shutdowns going forward would be the result of an unexpected break of the watermain.