Hydro Ottawa Utility Relocation

The NCC is currently undertaking environmental remediation on Victoria Island and as a result, the whole island is closed to the public. Victoria Island is a place of significance to the Algonquin Nation. The NCC and the Algonquin Nation are jointly working on a planning process for the future of the island.

The NCC aims to have the remediation work completed by 2025. As part of the work, contaminated soil was removed from the Timberslide Ravine located between Victoria and Amelia Islands.  A 26-metre raised hydro duct bank (a protected pathway for cables and utilities) owned and operated by Hydro Ottawa currently spans the ravine and contains high-voltage lines and other utilities.  Contaminated soil remains under the duct bank.  The duct bank was designed and built before 1969 (50+ years old) and is in poor condition.  Given its condition and location, the duct bank will be relocated to a more practical location prior to the next phase of remedial work. 

The utilities currently housed within and attached to the exterior of the overhead duct bank will be relocated under Timberslide Road on Amelia Island and Middle Street on Victoria Island, spanning the ravine via the Timberslide Bridge. Hydro Ottawa will be responsible for of the design, excavation and reinstatement of the utility trench. This includes excavation of contaminated soil and possible bedrock excavation to allow for installation of manholes.  The NCC's environmental consultant will be on-site to supervise the excavation and ensure the proper handling and stockpiling of the contaminated soil. Contaminated soil will be temporarily stockpiled on Victoria Island and will be removed as part of the next phase of remedial work.  Hydro Ottawa will be responsible for installing their utilities as well as connecting their new infrastructure and disconnecting their old infrastructure to / from their Generating Stations. The utility relocation project will not affect public use of the site once the site is reopened but it will improve the aesthetic of the Timberslide Ravine by removing the old above ground duct currently spanning it.    

No vegetation will be removed as part of this project.

Rationale of project:

The duct bank is coming to the end of its useful life. Given its poor condition, remediation work could not proceed safely without its removal. Relocating the duct bank to its new proposed location will allow Hydro Ottawa/Energy Ottawa to upgrade its infrastructure and provide for a safer work environment for the remediation work.

Start Date/Duration:

The relocation will take place in May and June of 2021.

More


Latest update

March 23, 2021. The public comment period on the project is closed. The National Capital Commission is considering comments received to help inform its determination on whether the proposed project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects..

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document Number Document Title File Date
2 Notice of determination - March 23, 2021
1 Hydro Ottawa Utility Relocation - February 23, 2021

Contacts

National Capital Commission
Environmental Assessment
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5A8
Email: IA-EI@ncc-ccn.ca


  • Location

    • Ottawa (Ontario)
  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified
  • Assessment Status

    Completed
  • Start Date

    2021-02-23
  • Proponent

    Hydro Ottawa
  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission
  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands
  • Reference Number

    81394
Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

 

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
Date modified: