- 注册
- 2002-10-07
- 消息
- 402,590
- 荣誉分数
- 76
- 声望点数
- 228
Ottawa – The Government of Ontario will jointly fund a study for a possible tunnel to address the problem of heavy inter-provincial truck traffic in downtown Ottawa. Currently, 2,600 trucks travel daily through Lowertown and Sandy Hill streets such as King Edward Avenue.
“We want to have strong transportation links between Ontario and Quebec but not at the expense of our nation’s capital,” said Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray. “We are working with the City of Ottawa to investigate a possible solution to the issue of heavy truck traffic downtown.”
“I am committed to helping find a real, sustainable solution to the heavy truck problem in downtown Ottawa” said Madeleine Meilleur, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier. “I’m glad the provincial government is joining the city to work toward that goal. The proposed tunnel could be the solution we’re looking for, as it eliminates non-local trucks from the core of the city and King Edward Ave. This study will be an important step in the process that will help the city make the best possible decision.''
“We want to give the truck tunnel option a fresh look because this isn’t a problem that is going to solve itself,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “We are pleased that the Ontario government will collaborate with the City to investigate a potential solution that would significantly improve the liveability of great neighbourhoods like Lowertown and Sandy Hill.”
Earlier this week, City of Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) – the blueprint for transportation investments throughout the City over the next 20 years — was unanimously approved by Council.
As part of the TMP discussions, Rideau-Vanier Councillor Mathieu Fleury brought forward a motion, which was also strongly supported by Transportation Committee and Council, to initiate a feasibility study for a downtown tunnel that would establish an alternate connection between Highway 417 and the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge for trucks and vehicles that travel through the downtown area without stopping.
The Province has agreed to cost-share this focused feasibility study, on the understanding that the City will initiate and lead it in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
“I am thrilled that we are making this step forward towards a solution with the Government of Ontario. The people of Lowertown and Sandy Hill have lived with trucks barrelling through their neighbourhoods in growing numbers for too many years, and we need to ensure that we are looking for solutions from all angles” said Councillor Fleury.
This study is important, as it approaches the issue of truck traffic through Ottawa’s downtown core by maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, and will provide a clear answer as to the technical feasibility of a tunnel option. Truck traffic in the King Edward/Macdonald-Cartier Bridge corridor is growing at about two to three per cent a year.
The tunnel option has been discussed in the past but dismissed without the benefit of in-depth technical analysis, or examined based on certain assumptions which may no longer be valid. For example, previous interprovincial crossing studies focused on the need to provide additional car capacity through this corridor. However, as the National Capital Region continues to emphasize investments in public transit and alternate transportation modes, providing additional car capacity becomes a lesser priority.
This technical study will cost approximately $750,000 and take approximately 12 months to complete. If the study determines that such a project is feasible, there would be a subsequent environmental assessment study that would include extensive public consultation.
Ottawa – The study of a possible solution to heavy traffic in downtown Ottawa will investigate the technical feasibility of connecting the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and Highway 417 with a tunnel, with the primary goal of removing large trucks from downtown streets.
Each weekday there is heavy inter-provincial truck traffic between Ottawa and Gatineau, about 3,750 trucks daily, 2,600 of which are using the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and go through the communities of Lowertown and Sandy Hill to reach Hwy. 417.
There will be two parts to the study of a tunnel alternative:
Phase One: The first part of the study will assess the technical feasibility of constructing a tunnel and its portals; impacts of portals on adjacent land use, transportation facilities and buildings; ventilation requirements and impacts; potential conflicts with existing utilities and the Confederation Line; geotechnical analysis; the feasibility of using the tunnel by trucks carrying dangerous goods; other relevant tunnelling issues, and construction costs.
Phase Two: If a tunnel solution is deemed technically feasible based on the analysis completed in Phase One, the second phase will go into more depth, and look at issues such as the likely utilization of the tunnel by long-distance trucks and cars; potential community impacts; as well as the potential for repurposing surface streets.
There are a number of examples of tunnels built or planned in North America. These include:
Although the Ottawa study will look at the potential of diverting traffic from surface streets, the objective of this project is to remove long distance trucks from the surface streets and not to accommodate the potential growth of interprovincial car travel. This is keeping in line with the emphasis on investing in public transit that was part of the recently unanimously approved Transportation Master Plan.
The study will be carried out by an engineering consulting firm with expertise in transportation and tunnelling. The estimated study cost is $750,000.
If the study determines that such a project is feasible, there would be a subsequent environmental assessment study that would include extensive public consultation.
The graphic below provides a visual representation of the study area, including some of the potential portal locations for the entrance and exits to the tunnel.
查看原文...
“We want to have strong transportation links between Ontario and Quebec but not at the expense of our nation’s capital,” said Ontario Transportation Minister Glen Murray. “We are working with the City of Ottawa to investigate a possible solution to the issue of heavy truck traffic downtown.”
“I am committed to helping find a real, sustainable solution to the heavy truck problem in downtown Ottawa” said Madeleine Meilleur, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier. “I’m glad the provincial government is joining the city to work toward that goal. The proposed tunnel could be the solution we’re looking for, as it eliminates non-local trucks from the core of the city and King Edward Ave. This study will be an important step in the process that will help the city make the best possible decision.''
“We want to give the truck tunnel option a fresh look because this isn’t a problem that is going to solve itself,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “We are pleased that the Ontario government will collaborate with the City to investigate a potential solution that would significantly improve the liveability of great neighbourhoods like Lowertown and Sandy Hill.”
Earlier this week, City of Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) – the blueprint for transportation investments throughout the City over the next 20 years — was unanimously approved by Council.
As part of the TMP discussions, Rideau-Vanier Councillor Mathieu Fleury brought forward a motion, which was also strongly supported by Transportation Committee and Council, to initiate a feasibility study for a downtown tunnel that would establish an alternate connection between Highway 417 and the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge for trucks and vehicles that travel through the downtown area without stopping.
The Province has agreed to cost-share this focused feasibility study, on the understanding that the City will initiate and lead it in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
“I am thrilled that we are making this step forward towards a solution with the Government of Ontario. The people of Lowertown and Sandy Hill have lived with trucks barrelling through their neighbourhoods in growing numbers for too many years, and we need to ensure that we are looking for solutions from all angles” said Councillor Fleury.
This study is important, as it approaches the issue of truck traffic through Ottawa’s downtown core by maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, and will provide a clear answer as to the technical feasibility of a tunnel option. Truck traffic in the King Edward/Macdonald-Cartier Bridge corridor is growing at about two to three per cent a year.
The tunnel option has been discussed in the past but dismissed without the benefit of in-depth technical analysis, or examined based on certain assumptions which may no longer be valid. For example, previous interprovincial crossing studies focused on the need to provide additional car capacity through this corridor. However, as the National Capital Region continues to emphasize investments in public transit and alternate transportation modes, providing additional car capacity becomes a lesser priority.
This technical study will cost approximately $750,000 and take approximately 12 months to complete. If the study determines that such a project is feasible, there would be a subsequent environmental assessment study that would include extensive public consultation.
Study will evaluate feasibility of tunnel between bridge and Hwy. 417
Ottawa – The study of a possible solution to heavy traffic in downtown Ottawa will investigate the technical feasibility of connecting the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and Highway 417 with a tunnel, with the primary goal of removing large trucks from downtown streets.
Each weekday there is heavy inter-provincial truck traffic between Ottawa and Gatineau, about 3,750 trucks daily, 2,600 of which are using the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge and go through the communities of Lowertown and Sandy Hill to reach Hwy. 417.
There will be two parts to the study of a tunnel alternative:
Phase One: The first part of the study will assess the technical feasibility of constructing a tunnel and its portals; impacts of portals on adjacent land use, transportation facilities and buildings; ventilation requirements and impacts; potential conflicts with existing utilities and the Confederation Line; geotechnical analysis; the feasibility of using the tunnel by trucks carrying dangerous goods; other relevant tunnelling issues, and construction costs.
Phase Two: If a tunnel solution is deemed technically feasible based on the analysis completed in Phase One, the second phase will go into more depth, and look at issues such as the likely utilization of the tunnel by long-distance trucks and cars; potential community impacts; as well as the potential for repurposing surface streets.
There are a number of examples of tunnels built or planned in North America. These include:
- Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct — a double-decker highway tunnel (for Highway 99) beneath its downtown (under construction)
- The Port of Miami Tunnel project that includes twin tunnels connecting S.R. A1A/MacArthur Causeway and PortMiami (under construction)
- The Deck Park Tunnel just north of downtown Phoenix. Also known as the Papago Freeway Tunnel Project, this is an underground stretch of Interstate 10, completed in August of 1990.
Although the Ottawa study will look at the potential of diverting traffic from surface streets, the objective of this project is to remove long distance trucks from the surface streets and not to accommodate the potential growth of interprovincial car travel. This is keeping in line with the emphasis on investing in public transit that was part of the recently unanimously approved Transportation Master Plan.
The study will be carried out by an engineering consulting firm with expertise in transportation and tunnelling. The estimated study cost is $750,000.
If the study determines that such a project is feasible, there would be a subsequent environmental assessment study that would include extensive public consultation.
The graphic below provides a visual representation of the study area, including some of the potential portal locations for the entrance and exits to the tunnel.
-30-
查看原文...
