Community Update: Canal Wall Demolition to Begin in the New Year

Cofferdam along Rideau Canal near Echo Drive

December 21, 2018 – In October, Parks Canada began work on the replacement of the Echo Drive section of the Rideau Canal walls. This project includes the replacement of 262 metres of canal wall, reconstruction of a section of the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway, as well as the installation of new railings to maintain public safety. The project will complete with site restoration and landscaping by spring 2020.

Currently, the installation of the cofferdam - a dry in-water work space – is ongoing, as is the placement of a granular work pad that allows work to occur on the soft sediment within the canal. In the new year, work will begin on the construction of a shoring wall between the work area and Colonel By Drive. Once completed, the excavation and demolition of the existing wall will begin.

The rehabilitation of the Rideau Canal walls in downtown Ottawa is part of Parks Canada’s unprecedented $3 billion dollar investment over 5 years to support infrastructure work to heritage, visitor, waterway and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas across Canada. These historic investments will mitigate health and safety risks, halt the loss of nationally significant built heritage and stimulate the economy in communities across the country.

Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway Detour Map

For the duration of the project, the following pedestrian and cyclist detour will be in place.

Investment into the Rideau Canal Walls

The first phase of this Federal Infrastructure Investment project rehabilitated a 500 meter length of the canal wall on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side near the Bronson Bridge. Work included chipping away the damaged concrete and re-forming and placing new concrete to resurface the walls. Concurrently, work was undertaken to repair the Rideau Canal Western Pathway in this area. The work for this phase was completed in spring 2016.

The second phase of this project repaired approximately 500 meters of walls between the Bank St bridge and Pig Island on the East side of the Rideau Canal. This work included chipping away damaged concrete and refacing the walls with new concrete as well as the replacement of light posts, handrails, and repairs to the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway. This second phase of work was completed in the spring of 2017.

For More Information:

For up-to-date news on infrastructure work along the Rideau Canal, please visit our website: www.pc.gc.ca/rcInfrastructure. If you would like to be added to our community engagement list and receive updates on this project, please e-mail RideauCanal.info@pc.gc.ca and include “Rideau Canal Walls” in the subject heading.