Construction begins April 14, 2025
2 April 2025
The City of Kitchener will rehabilitate the existing Ottawa Street Trunk Sanitary Sewer and associated maintenance holes from Old Chicopee Drive through to Dreger Avenue and Graber Place.
The City of Kitchener has awarded Capital Sewer Services the contract for the rehabilitation work which is scheduled to start on/or about April 14, 2025. The work will include cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining of the sewers and spray-lining of the maintenance holes.
This work is part of the Council-approved Capital Works Program to rehabilitate deteriorated sanitary sewer and maintenance hole infrastructure. Impacts along Ottawa Street North, Old Chicopee Drive, Dreger Avenue and Graber Place along existing roads, sidewalks, and driveways are expected.
Map of work area
What to expect during construction
Work hours
Work will take place from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday. Work on weekends may also be required from time to time, but is unlikely, and is pre-approved Saturday and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Construction noise
You may experience intermittent noise and vibration during construction (from vacuum trucks, excavators, dump trucks, power generators, air compressors, paving equipment, concrete equipment, and other machinery).
On-site communication
Sometimes, contractors need to communicate with homeowners about what is happening on-site. This could be about driveway access, water shut-offs, pre-construction inspections, and site restoration work (examples: landscaping, installing pavers). The contractor's staff will be identifiable by their high-visibility company branded clothing. If you need to speak with staff on the construction site, please ask for the Site Inspector.
Accessible accommodation
The City's contractor must ensure safe and accessible walkways and entryways are maintained for everyone during construction. Any temporary access disruptions will be communicated as soon as possible. If you experience a disruption, have a specific access need, or a related accommodation request, contact the person listed below.
Residents who require accommodation (examples: for level entry, longer notice) must contact the Project Manager to arrange for access during the construction period.
GRT Service
Starting on April 14, 2025 there may be impacts to bus routes on Ottawa Street between Old Chicopee Drive and Dreger Avenue and Old Chicopee Drive between Ottawa Street North and Holborn Drive.
Travel times may be affected. For accurate schedule information, visit www.grt.ca
Odour
During the sewer CIPP lining process, the work can cause strong "plastic or glue-like" short-term odours. This may happen during and shortly after lining activities if your drain pipes do not have the required water barrier.
Important: To avoid these strong odours, please follow the instructions in the contractor's Service Disruption Notice. At that time, we recommend that you pour 1-2 litres of water down every drain, including sinks, showers, bathtub and floor drains. This will ensure a water barrier is present prior to the lining work. Do not continuously run your taps.
If any type of strong odour is present in your home, please contact the contractor’s emergency contact for help. That contact will be included in the Service Disruption Notice.
More information on odours and how to prevent them
Drain pipes are designed as per Ontario Building Code to retain water after each use. This creates a water barrier that prevents odours from entering your home.
Residents should not smell odours in their house if they follow the instructions provided above and have a plumbing system that follows the current Ontario Building Code. If odours are present, you may have an internal plumbing issue (such as blocked roof vent stack, no vent, or no trap). You may choose to hire a private plumber to investigate.
Telephone and internet services
For individual properties, this work may affect phone and internet cables that are not buried deep below the sidewalk. The contractor will coordinate with utility companies to minimize disruption. Residents who find their service has been disrupted should notify their phone or internet service provider immediately to start the repair process.
Important information for owners of sprinkler systems, heated driveways, or private landscaping features
Property owners should remove items located within City property limits (boulevard) to avoid damage. This includes items such as landscaping (plants and pavers), decorative objects, sprinkler systems or heated driveways. If you have a sprinkler system or heated driveway, please contact the Project Manager listed below.
Road and sidewalk access
To complete the work safely, there will be road and sidewalk restrictions within the work zone. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
Driveway access
The contractor will notify you of any temporary restrictions to your driveway access. Due to the nature of the work, driveway access may not always be possible.
During reconstruction, temporary parking permits will be issued to displaced residents to allow on-street parking when needed. The permits will list streets for parking options where you can park longer than 3 hours and overnight. The site inspector will hand out the permits. Typically, 2 permits are handed out per property. If you require additional permits, please reach out to the Site Inspector.
Display the permit on your vehicle’s dash. Park your vehicle only in permitted areas and ensure that you do not interfere with any construction operations.
We communicate with the Bylaw Enforcement team to ensure residents displaced by construction are noted, although illegal parking and safety-related issues will continue to be enforced.
Parking
This project will affect on-street parking. Parking in the active work zone is not permitted as space is needed for construction equipment and materials. If your parked vehicle affects construction work, it will be relocated without charge to the owner.
If you require parking enforcement, please contact 519-741-2345.
Traffic management
Efforts have been made to manage traffic in the area for the safety of workers, road users and residents. Road users should expect delays and increased traffic on nearby main and side streets.
Moving in/out and deliveries
Efforts will be made to accommodate properties that have scheduled move-ins / move-outs and deliveries. Please contact the site inspector in advance to advise of any delivery access.
Garbage and recycling
Please have materials placed at curbside before 7 a.m. on your collection day. If required, the contractor will move bins to an appropriate location and return them in reasonable amount of time. Please ensure that you label your bins with your address.
Restoration
The construction work area will be restored with sod, concrete and/or asphalt where required. Interlocking bricks, flagstone on a granular base, or other similar features that are removed from public and private property during construction will be replaced. Further information notice regarding sod will follow once the sod is placed.
Site Inspector
If you have construction questions or an issue onsite, we ask that you contact the site inspector who represents the city onsite. The site inspector is onsite daily and can be identified by the white hardhat they wear with either the city logo or consultant company logo on it.
Alex Thai
If the site inspector is unavailable, please contact the Project Manager listed below.
Need more information?
If you have questions about the upcoming work, please contact us.
Consultant Project Manager
Ted Li
City Project Manager
Licinio Costa
519-783-8314 (TTY:1-866-969-9994)
Engineering General inquiries
Thank you for your continued patience.
