Schaefer Street Reconstruction

The Public Information Centre presentation video provides an overview of the project, further detail is provided here.

What is the scope of work?

As part of the City of Waterloo’s asset management and road rehabilitation programs, roadway, watermain and sewer improvements are planned for Schaefer Street from Weber Street to the Cul-De-Sac. Subject to receipt of all technical and financial approvals, construction of this project is tentatively scheduled to occur from April 2023 to September 2023.

The specific improvements planned for Schaefer Street include:

• Replace the existing sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and watermain to meet current capacity requirements and design standards.
• Replace the existing sanitary and water service laterals to each property from the new mains to the property line.
• Replace the existing asphalt with a new 9.0m wide paved roadway and install a new semi-mountable concrete curb and gutter and install a new 1.8m wide concrete sidewalk on the north side of Schaefer Street.
• Replace all existing driveway ramp entrances within the municipal right-of-way to conform to current City standards.
• Restoration of disturbed areas with topsoil and sod.

Can property owners upgrade their existing sanitary sewer and water services?

All water service laterals for within the municipal right-of-way will be replaced with 25-mm (or existing) diameter polyethylene pipe from the watermain to the property line and all sanitary service laterals within the municipal right-of-way will be replaced with 100-mm (or existing) diameter PVC pipe from the sewer main to the property line. Should the property owner wish to further increase the size of their water or sanitary service lateral within the municipal right-of-way, the City will cover the base cost for the above-noted service lateral sizes and the remaining cost will be borne by the property owner. Please contact the City’s Project Manager for additional details.

Any property owner wishing to have a larger-sized sanitary service lateral installed on their private property will be responsible for performing this work at their own expense following the completion of construction. Prior to completing this work, the property owner must obtain a permit under the Plumbing Code from the City’s Building department.

Are there any changes proposed to the existing streetscape?

The make-up of the existing streetscape will undergo a few changes. The travelled roadway’s width will be reduced slightly to accommodate the installation of new concrete curb and gutter. Currently there is no sidewalk on Schaefer Street. This project will introduce a 1.8m wide concrete sidewalk along the north the of Schaefer Street which will terminate in the cul-de-sac bulb. Existing utilities, such as hydro poles, underground Bell/Rogers conduit and existing gas mains will remain as-is.

What is the timing of the construction?

Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2023, pending Council approval, with work expected to be completed by the end of September 2023.

While all efforts will be made to maintain the proposed schedule, potential delays may arise due to weather conditions, unexpected subsurface conditions, or other events that are not within the control of the City or the Contractor.

Who will be doing the work?

A private contractor selected through the City’s public tender process will undertake the work. Representatives from the selected Contractor will be in attendance at the second public information centre to be held prior to construction in the spring of 2023.

How will I access my property?

Construction will generally be completed on weekdays between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. During construction activities, pedestrian access to private properties will be maintained at all times. Vehicular access to private properties on Schaefer Street will generally be maintained while construction activities are ongoing. Property owners/tenants are advised that, at certain times, vehicular access to private properties will be temporarily restricted while construction activities take place directly at the driveway. The Contractor and site inspector will provide advance notification to property owners/tenants prior to any temporary driveway restrictions so that suitable arrangements can be made.

Will sanitary sewer and water services be interrupted?

Sewer and water services will be generally maintained throughout the duration of construction. However, short interruptions can be expected, particularly when the services to individual properties are transferred from existing mains to new mains. In the majority of cases, interruptions will be limited to several hours and will occur during normal working hours. Advance notification will be provided prior to any planned service interruption. If special requirements for these services are required, please contact us so that the timing of service disruptions can be planned accordingly.

How will disruptions be minimized?

It is critical to the City of Waterloo that construction is completed while minimizing disruption to the abutting property owners and tenants. By nature, road reconstruction and sewer replacement is disruptive and at times will create noise, vibration due to compaction, and the potential for dust. To mitigate dust during construction, water and calcium chloride are periodically placed.

Surface landscape features existing on City property

During road reconstruction projects, the City occasionally finds that property owners have landscaped the City’s boulevard in some fashion. The boulevard is defined as the space between the edge of a roadway and the property line. Along Schaefer Street, the property line is located 4.0 metres to 5.0 metres behind the back edge of the existing edge of pavement.

The City’s By-Law to Regulate Work on Highways and Boulevards allows for property owners to alter the boulevard by planting herbaceous (i.e., non-woody) plants in the boulevard provided they are maintained at a height of less than 45 centimetres. However, the City notes that it is not responsible for the cost of reinstating these landscaped areas if they are disturbed as a result of infrastructure maintenance activities such as road and sewer rehabilitation. The City’s standard for boulevard reinstatement is topsoil and sod only. Property owners wishing to maintain any plantings will need to remove any plants they wish to keep prior to construction and notify the City’s Project Manager of plans for reinstatement.

All non-herbaceous plants will be removed, and reinstatement will be prohibited. Any landscape features that interfere with sightlines will also be removed and not reinstated. Irrigation systems are specifically prohibited; the City will not reimburse property owners for damage to any irrigation system in the boulevard. Certain landscape features such as private retaining walls are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Property owners whose properties include these features either within or abutting the boulevard should contact the City’s Project Manager.

Prior to construction, any required tree maintenance will be carried out. Specifications have been developed to mitigate damage to trees during construction.

Will waste collection services be affected?

Private waste collection will be maintained throughout the duration of construction. Property owners/tenants are advised that, at certain times, vehicular access to private properties will be temporarily restricted while construction activities take place directly at the driveway. The Contractor and site inspector will provide advance notification to property owners/tenants prior to any temporary driveway restrictions so that suitable arrangements can be made. When access is restricted by construction operations, property owners are to coordinate waste collection schedules with the Contractor and Site Inspector in order to minimize disruptions.

How can I voice my comments?

The City of Waterloo understands that construction activities will cause inconvenience to businesses in the area and requests your cooperation and patience throughout the duration of this project. Comments can be directed to the project team, or you can submit comments, questions or concerns through our Comments section. In addition to your comments, the City would appreciate input from businesses regarding special needs, e.g., for those with mobility issues, concerns related specifically to water or sewer service improvements, driveway modifications, and concerns regarding private landscape works. This written record will assist the City in addressing issues related to the above-noted works. We would appreciate receiving comments related to this first Public Information Centre by July 17, 2022.