Merivale Transformer Station Relocations at 31 Woodfield Dr in Ottawa

As part of Hydro One's Merivale Transformer Station (TS) expansion project, Hydro Ottawa Ltd will relocate a pole line with three overhead primary circuits, and one existing fibre optic cable underground. This will maintain the electrical systems infrastructure and avoid conflicts with Hydro One's proposed substation expansion. Demand for electricity in Ottawa is growing due to planned residential and commercial development. To ensure power is available for customers now and in the future, Hydro One Network Inc. is modernizing its Merivale TS. Merivale TS is one of two major transformer stations that supply about 60 percent of power to customers across Ottawa, including to Hydro Ottawa. The project will expand the station to increase capacity and replace aging infrastructure.

The proposed project will take place on leased National Capital Commission (NCC) lands and requires a federal land use, design, and real estate transaction approval under the National Capital Act. 

Hydro Ottawa's relocation work involves installing eight new poles, thirteen new anchors, 280m of new underground civil structure, three manholes, and removing eight existing poles and twelve anchors. Hydrovac excavation will be used for all new pole and anchor locations. The excavation contractor will remove all excavated soil from the site. The new poles will be placed into small excavations and backfilled with imported granular A crushed stone. All new underground concrete-encased duct structures will be placed in a 1-meter wide by 1-meter deep trench, dug mechanically with a Backhoe. All trench work will be backfilled with at least 300 millimetres of granular A crushed stone, with the remainder filled with native excavated soil. All excavated areas will be fenced for public safety. Any extra fill will be removed from the site.

The Crestview corridor is a linear greenspace in Ottawa's urban area, mostly grassy, with some trees and shrubs. The adjacent lands care mixed residential and commercial areas, with the CN rail corridor running parallel along the south side of the greenspace.

The construction area will be accessed from Merivale Rd through the existing utility access gate. All trucks and equipment will travel along the existing utility access road to avoid disrupting the existing greenspace. The construction work will begin in May 2025 and is expected to be completed by late September 2025. All construction work will comply with municipal by-laws, including noise regulations.

The excavation work will mainly impact grassy areas and require the removal of small honeysuckle, meadowsweet and buckthorn shrubs. All reinstated areas will match the existing ground surface and be finished with topsoil and grass seed to naturalize after the work.

More

Latest update

[Aygust 18, 2025] – The National Capital Commission issued its Notice of Determination and determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

Participate

Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Determination - National Capital Commission - August 18, 2025

Contacts

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


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.

  • Location

    • Merivale TS (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Hydroelectric Energy

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-03-25

  • Proponent

    Hydro Ottawa

  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89390

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
Report a problem on this page
Date modified: