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Terry Fox Drive, March Road to Kanata Avenue

Abstract

The 5.4 kilometre extension of Terry Fox Drive was designed and constructed
as a four-lane modified urban cross-sectional roadway with signalized
intersections including a two-lane portion of the ultimate four-lane crosssection
through virgin forest, connecting two arterial roadways, which
replaced the aging two-lane roadway. The extension passes through the rocky
ridges of the South March Highlands, creating a new gateway to northern
Kanata, Ontario (Photo 1). This road was long planned for, and was intended
to replace the rapidly failing and inadequate Goulbourn Forced Road, which
many commuters use daily.
The fast-tracked project, shared by three tiers of government to stimulate the
local economy, the much needed extension to Terry Fox Drive improves the
ability of commuters, including pedestrians and cyclists, to safely reach their
destinations, while respecting the ecological sensitivities of the forests, creeks
and wetlands along the way. Significant engineering and environmental
challenges were met with innovative cost-effective solutions, several of which
are „firsts‟ in Ontario.
Reducing the impact of the road through provincially significant wetlands
involved exchanging four stormwater ponds with advanced swirl separation
chambers built into the roadbed, effectively narrowing the roadbed and overall
impact of the road on the ecosystem. Bisecting the wildlife corridors presented
a significant risk to Species at Risk, notably the wild American Ginseng plant
and Blanding‟s turtle. Through the use of a wildlife guide system of culverts
and fencing within the road design, this risk was eliminated. With this
innovation and cutting-edge road ecology research, Dillon‟s design was able to
protect the ecosystems around the road, and ensure the safety of the travelling
public and wildlife. A significant benefit to altering the road profile, managing
the ecosystem, and building out the ultimate footprint, allowed the City to
effectively manage the risk of future expansions.
Despite the terrain, the project was complete and the road opened to traffic by
July 21, 2011, just 30 months after receiving the assignment.

Conference Paper Details

Session title:
2014 TAC Environmental Achievement Award Nominations
Author(s):
S. Taylor
Topics:
Environmental issues, Environmental legislation
Year:
2014