Shovels at the ready for Ottawa LRT project

29 September 2020


Tunnel construction has officially started – albeit symbolically – on the US$3.48bn Stage 2 Light Rail Transit (LRT) West Extension (or ‘O-Train’) in Ottawa, Canada.

As part of the ground-breaking ceremony, Canadian officials posed awkwardly with shovels in front of makeshift piles of tunnel spoil. The start marks the next phase of Ottawa’s LRT which when complete will see 77% of the city’s population live within 5km of one of the line’s stations. More than two miles of tunnels (3.2km) will be required.

The 1.86 mile (3km) Parkway Tunnel will be constructed using cut-and-cover and will link Dominion Station with Lincoln Fields Station, dipping en route beneath the Sir John A Macdonald Parkway. Work has already started on relocating underground facilities.

A 270m-long second tunnel – the Connaught Tunnel – will also be constructed by cut and cover and will run from Queensview Station to Connaught Park.

Contractor East-West Connectors (EWC) is building both east and west O-Train extensions of Stage 2 which will involve 44km of rail and 24 new stations. The project, which is funded jointly by the Canadian government, the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa, is scheduled for completion in 2025. The work will be phased to minimise the impact on local communities and traffic.