Weekly newsletter: February 3, 2025
Hi everyone, welcome to February!
Please enjoy yet another photo, courtesy of my wife, where both my son and I have fallen asleep during a feed. Fun fact, he’s sleeping through the night… at least for now!
Snowbank removal continues to progress through the ward, though there will be no daytime removal today, as it’s garbage day. Public works staff were a bit too ambitious in their scheduling last week, which resulted in several streets not being completed by the end of the shift.
Staff say missed streets will be rescheduled for this week. Temporary no parking signs will be re-staked the day before snowbank removal. If the snow forecast for Friday doesn’t change, it’s likely snowbank removal will be paused Friday and Saturday as crews move back to snow clearing. Please see my Facebook page↗ for daily snowbank removal updates when available.
Additionally, I’ve asked for the snowbank at Highbury Park/Greenbank to be pushed back to improve the sightline for vehicles turning right.
Apparently, spring is coming early this year.
Looking ahead to construction season
General information about capital projects budgeted for Barrhaven East in 2026. No project timelines yet.
The official start of spring is just 44 days away and summer is 137 days away, but somewhere in between is the start of construction season.
Starting locally, Fallowfield Road between Greenbank and the railway will be the ward’s major resurfacing project. City staff are also considering using the opportunity to test out a different type of road marking that’s marketed to be more durable and retroreflective (especially when it’s dark and wet).
Two minor resurfacing projects are also planned for Claridge Drive between Oakfield and Strandherd and for the northern leg of Fieldgate Drive between Wolfgang and Grouse.
The resurfacing project for Claridge will be bundled with sidewalk replacement in that stretch on both sides, while the Fieldgate resurfacing project will include the full replacement of the streetlight at Fieldgate/Grouse.
Traffic calming projects are planned for Cresthaven between Waterbridge and Crestway, Earl Mulligan, and Grovehurst. The Earl Mulligan project↗ will include speed cushions, a pedestrian crossover at Woodgate, and a short sidewalk extension along Woodpark to Armagh. Cresthaven and Grovehurst will have simpler speed cushion/speed hump projects.
Elsewhere in the ward, sections of sidewalk around Daybreak Park will be repaired, alongside a project to replace the interlocking bricks at the four corners with concrete.
Other stretches of sidewalk across the ward have also been identified for smaller scale panel-by-panel repair and replacement, but that list has not been finalised. Locations are determined by past sidewalk inspections, service requests, and other input.
Sidewalk locations in the ward I’ve submitted to City staff include along Beatrice, Queensbury, Gleeson, and Taradale. Details will be shared as they become available. Please let me know if there’s a stretch of sidewalk that should be looked at!
The south police headquarters is progressing well, though some additional foundation piling early in the project delayed its completion and operational date from this year to next year. After the end of the facility’s substantial completion, the short stretch of Prince of Wales left unfinished in 2023’s resurfacing project will be completed.
Moving outside the ward, construction of the first phase of the Greenbank realignment↗ will begin this year in Half Moon Bay. A public information session for that phase of construction has been scheduled for February 9, 2026, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Cedarview Alliance Church (2784 Cedarview Road). Details in the link!
Motorists on Highway 417 will get some reprieve this year as the most substantial construction along the central portion of the highway is complete. Some lane closures may still happen as sound wall, median, and overhead signage work is completed. Work on a new set of bridge replacements at Richmond, Greenbank-Pinecrest, Woodroffe, and Maitland will begin in 2027.
Lastly, the Orléans LRT extension is reaching completion, with testing and commissioning on the horizon. The western extension to Moodie and Algonquin are on track for a spring/summer 2027 completion.
Bite-sized updates
Sorted alphabetically!
Beatrice/Queensbury (stop 3345) bus shelter – Delayed to the spring or summer. See explanation from December and update from January.
Development application, 320 Bren-Maur West↗ – The City received an application to construct a three-storey apartment building with 35 units and underground parking. The lot is currently zoned development reserve, and the developer is seeking rezoning to permit residential development.
Development application, 3400 Woodroffe↗ – The City received an application to construct 160 homes divided amongst stacked townhouses, back-to-back townhouses, and traditional townhouses. The developer is seeking rezoning to permit the desired density.
Development application, 596 Via Campanale↗ – The developer is seeking to amend their development approval to increase the number of units from 92 to 99, following a market analysis. No changes to the building height or footprint.
Fallowfield/Transitway – The traffic signals at Fallowfield/Transitway are intermittently cycling on their own (instead of changing for Transitway traffic only). City staff will investigate all detection components as the fault has happened a few times over the last year.
Police office hours – South District officers will test out open office hours as an added form of community outreach. Starting this Thursday, February 5, officers will be upstairs at the Walter Baker Sports Centre from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm every other Thursday. No registration or scheduling required!
Spring recreation registration – Browse recreation activities offerings for the spring at register.ottawa.ca↗. Registration on February 10 at 9:00 pm for aquatics, February 12 at 9:00 pm for all other activities.
Vacant unit tax - The 2026 vacant unit tax declaration portal is now open. Homeowners may complete their declaration through their ServiceOttawa account↗, at Ottawa.ca/VUT↗, by calling 613-580-2444, or in person at Ben Franklin Place or City Hall. Letters with access codes should be delivered this week. The deadline to complete the VUT declaration is March 19, 2026.
Waste collection – Friendly reminder that all recycling inquiries, including service issues and replacement bin requests should be directed to Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or Area2@MillerWaste.ca. General recycling questions may be directed to Circular Materials, the agency hired by the provincial government, at CustomerService@CircularMaterials.ca. Garbage, green bin, and yard waste remain responsibilities of the City.
Have a great week ahead!
-Wilson