Presentation to Transportation Committee

June 1, 2011

With respect to: Prince of Wales Drive Environmental Assessment

 I come before you today not to argue against this project, but rather to ask for your help in mitigating some of the inevitable consequences of this project.

 As the city grows transportation issues will constantly be at the forefront of issues that citizens and planners will debate.  Growth is inevitable and therefore changes to transportation infrastructure are inevitable.  But with growth comes the consequences of growth.  It is these consequences I wish to address today.

Historical

 A bit of history is in order.  Prince of Wales Drive has been alternately called Highway 16 and the Prescott Highway.  When I was a kid in Ottawa, the way to the US was down the Prescott Highway.  As Ottawa grew, so did the traffic on Prince of Wales Drive.  In the 1990s the building of Highway 416 began.  It finally opened in full in 1999.  The northern part of the highway separated from “old” Highway 16 at Century Road to run to the 417 interchange.  This alleviated traffic, especially trucks, through some very dense suburban areas including Barrhaven, Chapman Mills and Country Place.  It was planned that trucks would connect to the 416 via Hunt Club Road. 

 According to an MTO website <http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/ english/traveller/416/conquer.shtml>, one major challenge in building the 416 was the presence of Leda Clay.  (Leda clay (aka Champlain Sea clay), is a unique form of highly sensitive marine clay, with the tendency to change from a relatively stiff condition to a liquid mass when it is disturbed. Undisturbed quick clay resembles a water-saturated gel. When a mass of quick clay undergoes sufficient stress, however, it instantly turns into flowing ooze, a process known as liquefaction.)  Leda Clay has been the underlying cause of many deadly landslides. In Canada alone, it has been associated with more than 250 mapped landslides.  Prince of Wales Drive rests on Leda Clay.

Consequences of Prince of Wales (POW) Project

 Consequence #1                      The one the consistent complaints you will hear from homeowners who live close to Prince of Wales Drive is the issue of vibration.  In my home we feel vibration virtually every time a large truck passes by, especially going south.  At one time, we were convinced that the problem was a failed drainage pipe under the roadway causing the trucks to bounce, thus causing the vibration.  The city engineers repaired a piece of the road and warned truckers not to use engine retarding brakes, but the problem was not cured.  I am convinced that the problem is the weight of the trucks on an inadequate base (especially for modern heavy trucks for which the road was not designed), combined with the Leda Clay.

 Leda Clay as has been mentioned earlier is subject to liquefaction due to vibration and excessive moisture.   The proximity of POW to the river combined excessively rainy spring times and with the vibration set up by vehicular traffic is a recipe for potential disaster.  Homes on Baypointe Cres, for example, are some 20 feet higher that POW.  The POW engineering plan is to build a wall about half way up that hill, leaving half the hill unsupported.

 All this is not to say that we have an impending disaster but it is a consequence that can be mitigated.

 Request #1     We request that soil analysis of the clay hills that bound certain areas of POW be carried out and the results discussed with residents before construction begins.

 Consequence #2          Truck traffic along POW has increased even since the completion of the 416.  Truckers find it easier to travel along POW to the 416 rather than travel Hunt Club Road.  While the vibration of trucks is a 24 hour problem, it is most annoying in the overnight hours.  Vibration causes interruption of sleep patterns, thus quality of life, as well as damage to property.

 Request #2     We request, at maximum, that POW be made a no truck route.  At minimum, we request that trucks be banned between the hours of 22:00 and 07:00, Monday to Sunday, inclusive.

Consequence #3          Road noise is intrusive along POW.  Most homes fronting to the roadway cannot leave windows open due to the road noise.  Road noise is in fact tire noise and tire noise increases with speed.  Reduce speed – reduce noise.  The speed limit on many parts of POW is currently 60 kph.

Request #3       We request that the speed limit along POW be posted at 60 kph from Woodroffe Ave to Fisher Ave, inclusive.

Consequence #4          One area of concern, unfortunately, is not within the area of the environmental assessment.  We have discussed this concern with project officers who have made note of it.  Of concern is the traffic flow beyond the POW corridor.  In point, four-lane POW stops at Fisher Ave.  POW from Fisher to Baseline Road is a two lane roadway – a choke point.  While Fisher is currently primarily a four lane roadway, there is a choke point at Dynes Road where it reduces to two lanes to Baseline Road.  From Baseline, Fisher remains two lanes through the Farm to Carling Ave.

Consequence #5          With the increase of traffic flow along Fisher Ave, there is some concern for the number of schools and churches along this road and for the safety of children and pedestrians attempting to cross the roadway.

The Prince of Wales expansion project is necessary.  We do not dispute that fact.  However, as you can see in this presentation there are areas of concern that should be addressed as the project unfolds.

Thank you for your time.

Bruce Ricketts

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