Start of construction for natural gas upgrades.

*Reminder regarding private landscaping encroachments on city boulevards.

Enbridge plans to start construction on upgrades to natural gas infrastructure on Waterloo Street and Moore Avenue South starting on or about Monday March 11, 2024. Enbridge has hired Aecon to complete the work. Residents should be provided a notice letter by Enbridge prior to the start of construction. This notice contains contact information if you have any questions or concerns during construction. Please contact Enbridge for any issues during construction as the City of Waterloo is not involved in this process and all inquiries to the City will be re-directed to the contact at Enbridge.

Residents may notice that certain areas disturbed by Aecon’s construction are not fully restored following construction. This may mean that grassed areas are not properly restored with topsoil and seed and are left with sand or gravel, or that sidewalks are not restored with concrete. This is because these areas will inevitably be disturbed again during road reconstruction. This restoration work will be completed by the City’s contractor following reconstruction of the street’s.

At this stage, the City would like to remind residents about removing landscaping and landscaping features within the publicly owned right-of-way (i.e. boulevard). If residents wish to preserve any landscaping in the boulevard, they should remove them in advance of the start of road reconstruction. Residents should also contact Enbridge to determine if they should remove landscaping in advance of natural gas upgrades.

As a reminder, the City-owned boulevard on Waterloo Street and Moore Avenue South extend as follows:

• Waterloo Street, North side: Property line is between 0.05 and 0.25 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.
• Waterloo Street, South side: Property line is between 0.75 and 1.05 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.
• Moore Avenue South, West side: Property line is between 1.25 and 1.55 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.
• Moore Avenue South, East side: Property line is between 1.25 and 1.55 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.

Any landscaping features within the space is at risk of damage or complete removal by the contractor during construction. The City does not replace or reimburse costs for any private landscaping removed or damaged during construction. Please contact the undersigned if you require assistance in locating the property line in front of your residence.

As previously noted, private landscaping in City boulevards is regulated by section 5 of By-law 2014-054, a By-Law to Regulate Work on Highways and Boulevards, also known as the Highway Occupancy Bylaw. Please note that the bylaw was recently updated. Please see the excerpt included in the “Project Library” to review the newly approved rules.

During a road reconstruction project, the City will address private landscaping on City property in the following manner:

• Notice of the start of construction will be provided via a mailout to affected residents. This will contain the anticipated start date of construction and provide a final opportunity for you to remove and/or salvage any landscaping. A contractor has not yet been procured, but road reconstruction is currently anticipated to begin mid to late May 2024.

• Any landscaping not removed prior to the start of construction may be damaged and/or removed by the City’s contractor. As part of the reconstruction the City will reinstate boulevards with topsoil and sod but will not replace, or reimburse costs for, any private landscaping removed prior to or damaged during construction. Any owner who subsequently places landscaping in the City-owned boulevard does so entirely at his or her own risk.

• If your existing landscaping consists of hardscape features that are difficult to move such as concrete, masonry, wooden edging, low-height retaining walls, decorative light stands, fences, etc., please contact the City’s project manager (undersigned below) as soon as possible to discuss in further detail. As stated above, the City will not replace, or reimburse costs for, any private hardscaping in the City-owned boulevard that is left in place and damaged during construction. However, depending on the specific items/locations and anticipated construction impacts, the City may be able to assist in removing or relocating (to private property) these features as part of the road reconstruction work.

The policies above apply to landscaping/hardscaping and do not apply to paths of travel needed for access to the property. Driveways, walkways and other hard surfaced paths of travel from private to public property will be re-instated as close as practicable to existing conditions after construction.

Based on resident feedback, and consultation with Transportation Services, on-street parking on Waterloo Street will remain following reconstruction. With monitoring of some potential operational concerns, the decision has been made to retain on-street parking on the south side of the street with two-way traffic on the street. Transportation Services staff will continue to monitor the operation of the roadway, as it relates to emergency services, operational services and road safety, after the reconstruction project. Should there be any recommended changes in the future, staff will re-engage with residents at that time.

The project team has prepared answers to the most common questions received to date. Click the “FAQ” tab to view responses.

Also, a hydro-excavation company will be on-site on or about Thursday December 21^st to dig specific areas along Moore Avenue South to accurately determine the location and depth of third party utilities (e.g. Bell, Enbridge Gas) to ensure they do not conflict with our proposed designs. This work will generate noise, but can be completed without closing the road. Hydro-excavation also uses high pressure sprayers to loosen soil which can also splatter on nearby objects. If you are walking on the sidewalk, please tread carefully if walking past the work area. If possible cross to the other side of the street to avoid spray.

Thank you to everyone who made it out to the public information centre meeting last night at Elizabeth Ziegler Public School. For those who were unable to attend, the presentation boards and information booklet have been uploaded to the project library for residents to read and review.

The project team will be reviewing comments submitted at the meeting. Additionally, some residents submitted questions about alternative options. The project team will be reviewing those ideas and will discuss internally with the required groups. Responses will be posted in a newsfeed post on this page when ready. If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for email notifications when this page is updated.

The City of Waterloo and its engineering consultant for this project, GM Blueplan Engineering, will host a Public Information Centre (PIC) so local residents can ask questions or provide information about the planned reconstruction of Waterloo Street and part of Moore Avenue South. Construction is tentatively scheduled to occur from spring 2024 to late 2024. Details for the PIC meeting are:

Date: Thursday December 7, 2023

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Place: Elizabeth Ziegler Elementary School

90 Moore Avenue S., Waterloo

This informal meeting provides interested residents an opportunity to review the preliminary design plans, ask questions of City and engineering consultant staff, and learn more about the overall project scope and schedule.

The City encourages all interested residents to attend the PIC and learn how to receive further information about the project prior to construction. Residents should be aware that vehicular access to both the roadway and private properties is often restricted during construction activities. Construction will be completed under “road closed – local access only” conditions and primarily between 7 am and 7 pm.

Residents with special needs including mobility issues, those who require frequent deliveries or frequent access to their property, or similar requirements, are encouraged to attend to begin discussions regarding accommodation. If attendance is not possible, please contact the City’s Project Manager (contact information below) at your earliest opportunity. The Contractor and site inspectors will attempt to accommodate residents to the best of their ability while not compromising the safety of the construction zone. However, certain circumstances may require additional discussion and planning; advanced notification allows for alternative arrangements to be made.

Meeting discussion topics often include:

• Identifying trees that may be removed.
• Alternative parking when access to the road and/or private driveways is restricted.
• City standards for replacing sanitary and water service pipes.
• Measures to mitigate impacts to landscaped features on private property.
• Waste collection and mail delivery procedures during construction.
• City standards for replacement of driveway accesses within the municipal right-of-way and measures to be implemented to mitigate impacts to private driveways.
• Potential requirements for access to private property in order to replace water and sanitary service laterals and associated disturbances.
• City policy regarding boulevard areas with landscaping completed by residents.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this project and cannot attend the PIC, please contact the City’s Project Manager.

During the surveying of Waterloo Street and Moore Avenue South (from the tracks to Waterloo St), it was noted that the existing sidewalk widths do not meet the minimum requirement of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”). Widths on Waterloo Street were approximately 1.2 metres, while on Moore Avenue South were approximately 1.3 to 1.4 metres, depending on location. The AODA specifies that sidewalks must be a minimum width of 1.5 metres.

Widening the sidewalks on Waterloo Street presents several challenges to the design. Challenges include insufficient property for widening, steep grades from the curb to property lines and boulevard space required for street lights, snow storage and driveway ramps. These challenges mean that the only way to adhere to the AODA and have 1.5 metre sidewalks is to narrow the roadway. This narrowing results in the need to remove on street parking from the south (odd numbered) side of the road so that emergency and other critical services have the clearance needed to access properties.

Widening the sidewalks on Moore Avenue South will not have any impacts to the width and use of the roadway; therefore any existing on street parking will remain.

If residents have further questions please feel free to contact the project manager via email or submit a comment via the Comments section.

This notice is regarding landscape features within the City owned boulevard that may be affected by the reconstruction of Waterloo Street and part of Moore Avenue South.

The City recognizes and appreciates the landscaping work of property owners to maintain their property. Unfortunately, where landscaping extends onto municipal land, the City must exercise its right of access to complete essential construction activity. This includes the excavation of vegetation, topsoil, subsoils, hardscape features (i.e. decorative fencing, posts, lights, edging, etc.), retaining walls or other material on municipally-owned land that is necessary to reconstruct public infrastructure.

In general, private alterations to the City’s boulevard are prohibited, with the exception of certain landscaping that complies with section 5.5 of By-law 2014-054, a By-Law to Regulate Work on Highways and Boulevards. Frequently residents are unsure about where the property line separating the boulevard from private property is. Although not precise in all circumstances, the following rules of thumb can be used as a guide:

• Waterloo Street, North side: Property line is between 0.05 and 0.25 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.
• Waterloo Street, South side: Property line is between 0.75 and 1.05 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.
• Moore Avenue South, West side: Property line is between 1.25 and 1.55 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.
• Moore Avenue South, East side: Property line is between 1.25 and 1.55 metres from edge of sidewalk, depending on location.

During a road reconstruction project, the City will address private landscaping on City property in the following manner:

• Advanced notice prior to construction will be provided via mail and newsfeed updates on Engage Waterloo so that residents have an opportunity to remove and/or salvage any landscaping features you wish to reinstate after construction (i.e. where the landscaping complies with the requirements of Section 5.5, such as herbaceous plants less than 45 cm in height or inorganic ground cover less than 19 mm in diameter, etc.).

• Advance notice of the start of construction will be provided via mail to affected residents in the late winter/early spring of 2024. This will contain the anticipated start date of construction and provide a final opportunity for you to remove and/or salvage any landscaping you wish to reinstate after construction. Construction is currently anticipated to commence mid-April 2024.

• Any landscaping not removed prior to the start of construction may be damaged and/or removed, if necessary, by the City’s contractor. As part of the reconstruction the City will reinstate boulevards with topsoil and sod but will not replace, or reimburse costs for, any private landscaping removed prior to or damaged during construction. Any owner who subsequently places landscaping in the City-owned boulevard does so entirely at his or her own risk.

• If your existing landscaping consists of hardscape features, such as concrete, masonry, or wooden edging around planting beds, low-height retaining walls, decorative light stands, fences, etc., please contact the project manager (undersigned below) as soon as possible to discuss in further detail. As stated above, the City will not replace, or reimburse costs for, any private landscaping/hardscaping in the City-owned boulevard that is left in place and damaged during construction. However, depending on the specific items/locations and anticipated construction impacts, the City may be able to assist in removing or relocating (to private property) these features as part of the road reconstruction work.

The policies above apply to landscaping/hardscaping and do not apply to paths of travel needed for access to the property. Driveways, walkways and other hard surfaced paths of travel from private to public property will be re-instated as close as practicable to existing conditions after construction.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to renew public infrastructure on Waterloo Street and Moore Avenue South.

The City of Waterloo has approved the reconstruction of Waterloo Street (Moore Ave S to Roger St) and part of Moore Avenue South (Waterloo St to train tracks) with construction scheduled to start in the Spring of 2024. The City has selected GM BluePlan Engineering Limited to provide design and contract administration services for the reconstruction project. The map below shows the approximate limits of reconstruction.

As part of the reconstruction, all underground municipal infrastructure will be replaced, including sanitary sewer, storm sewer, watermain and sanitary and water services up to the common property line. Surface works will include a new concrete curb and gutter, new sidewalks and a new pavement structure. Areas disturbed by construction, such as walkways, driveways and grassed areas, will be restored to City standards. Please note that the City standard for boulevards within the public right-of-way is topsoil and sod. Private landscaping by residents within the public portion of the boulevard will not be replaced by the City.

Additionally, a separate consultant will, at some point, complete a geotechnical soils investigation in accordance with provincial regulations. This work will likely only take one to two days and will generally only block small sections of roadway and boulevard. The work shouldn’t present a major inconvenience to mobility. However, the equipment used can make short, high-pitched bursts of noise which residents should be prepared for.

The City will provide various notices and updates prior to and during construction. Prior to construction, residents will be invited to two in-person Public Information Centres (PIC). The first PIC will provide information on the proposed design. The second PIC will provide more information on what to expect during construction and provide an opportunity to meet the contractor.

Where possible, the City will make efforts to minimize the amount of disruption to your day-to-day activities; however, major reconstruction projects such as this will inevitably result in some disruptions. Please note the following important information at this stage:

Notify the City’s Project Manager if you have any mobility challenges. During construction, driveway access is generally unavailable during working hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Sidewalks will be maintained to the extent feasible when driveway access is not available. However, there will be times when even sidewalk access is impacted. Knowing any existing challenges in advance will help plan for specific needs.

Hold off replacing driveways or walkways. Construction will result in the ends of driveways and walkways being removed and patched at the end of construction. Waiting to replace driveways and walkways until after construction will avoid the need to cut into new pavement.

Image showing asphalt driveway that has been patched next to the sidewalk following construction.
Image showing a concrete driveway that has been patched next to the sidewalk following construction