Nanaimo Drive Sidewalk and Streetlighting
Project Overview
The City of Ottawa's Transportation Master Plan contains a list of transportation infrastructure projects, including new sidewalks, that the City intends to construct over the coming years. This list of projects was created and prioritized based on public consultation, Councillor input and a city-wide network review. A sidewalk and streetlighting along Nanaimo Dr from Richmond Road to Nanaimo Park was approved as a phase 1 project in the plan.
The provision of a sidewalk and streetlighting on Nanaimo Drive aligns with the City’s transportation goals to maximize walkability and to create safe, inviting pedestrian environments for all ages and abilities.
Project Timelines
After the public consultation has concluded, comments will be reviewed and the functional design will be refined. The project will then be transferred to the City’s design and construction group for the detailed design phase. Specifics of the plan may change slightly during detailed design as the drawings are further refined. Timelines for construction are variable, and a project may be delayed to align with other project schedules.
Local Context
Nanaimo Drive is a collector road from Richmond Road to Queensline Drive and a local road from Queensline Drive to Brian Crescent.
Nanaimo Drive has a posted speed limit of 40 km/h.
There is a signalized intersection with pedestrian crossings at Nanaimo Drive and Richmond Road.
Nanaimo Park and the Qualicum Community Association Building are located at the east end of Nanaimo Drive.
There is a community mailbox located on the south side of Nanaimo Drive east of Okanagan Drive.
Map of project area, Nanaimo Drive
Design Options
Map of project area, Nanaimo DriveAlternative designs reviewed for pedestrian improvements along Nanaimo Drive included:
2 metre wide sidewalk on the south side of Nanaimo Drive
2 metre wide sidewalk on the north side of Nanaimo Drive
A 2 metre wide sidewalk on the south side of the road is preferred as it provides a continuous pedestrian route for children and vulnerable users with direct connections to the existing pathway at Nanaimo Park, the Qualicum Community Association Building, and to the existing signalized pedestrian crossings at Richmond Road.
Design Features
The project proposes the following design features:
New 2 metre wide sidewalk on the south side of Nanaimo Drive to tie into the existing sidewalk on Richmond Road, the pathway at Nanaimo Park and the entrance to the Community Association Building.
- To fit the new sidewalk, City-owned portions of driveway accesses and front lawns may need to shortened by 1.2 to 1.8 m between Richmond and Queensline, and by 2.1 to 2.4 m between Queensline and Nanaimo Park.
Traffic calming measures including intersection narrowings and speed humps.
Pedestrian crossing improvements at side roads intersecting with Nanaimo Drive at Queensline Drive, Okanagan Drive and Aleutian Road including crosswalks and reduced curb radii to shorten pedestrian crossing distances and to help reduce the speed of turning vehicles.
Existing road widths ranging from 7.3 to 8.7 metres will be changed to 7.5 metres east of Queensline Drive, and 8.0 metres between Queensline Drive and Richmond Road.
On-street parking will be permitted on:
one side of the street where road is narrowed to 7.5 metres, the same side as the sidewalk
both sides of the street where road is 8.0 metres
Streetlighting improvements are being examined.
Cross section of Nanaimo Drive, from Richmond Road to Queensline Drive
Cross section of Nanaimo Drive, from Queensline Drive to Nanaimo Park