QEW Credit River Bridge Detail Design Assignment from ... Information Centre 1... · QEW Credit River Bridge Detail Design Assignment from Mississauga Road to ... The purpose of this

Website: www.qewcreditriver.ca

QEW Credit River Bridge Detail Design

Assignment from Mississauga Road to

Hurontario Street

Public Information Centre Round #1

October 2017

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WELCOME


The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained Morrison

Hershfield to complete the Detail Design for the QEW from west of

Mississauga Road to west of Hurontario Street, including designing a

bridge to the north of the existing QEW Credit River Bridge and

rehabilitation of the existing QEW Credit River Bridge.

PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING

The purpose of this Public Information Centre is to present:

Detail Design plans.

Modifications made since the Class Environmental Assessment was completed.

An overview of environmental conditions and constraints.

The proposed measures that will mitigate environmental effects.

The City of Mississauga Active Transportation Crossing Project.

Next steps.

You are encouraged to comment on this project by speaking with a member

of the Project Team in attendance, and by submitting comment sheets.

Members of the Public may also request to add their name and contact

information to the mailing list to receive all future project communications.

Des exemplaires des panneaux en français sont disponibles sur demande.


This Detail Design assignment is building on the recommendations made

during the 2013 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment

(Class EA) Study. That study included extensive consultation with the local

community.

The 2013 Class EA study generated and evaluated various design

alternatives involving three components of the QEW within the study area:

QEW Credit River bridge alternatives.

Alignment alternatives.

Interchange alternatives at Mississauga Rd.

The evaluation resulted in the selection of a technically preferred

alternative that is the basis for this current Detail Design undertaking.

The purpose of this Detail Design assignment is to finalize the design,

develop strategies to reduce environmental impacts and integrate the

project into the local surroundings. This study is following the approved

planning process for a Group “B” project under the MTO Class

Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities, 2000

(Class EA).

STUDY BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE


During the 2013 Class EA study, approval was sought to rehabilitate the existing

QEW Credit River Bridge, build a new bridge to the north side of the existing

bridge, improve the Mississauga Road interchange, and other changes to road

alignment, lighting, noise walls, drainage and other minor works.

As part of the Detail Design process, the Preliminary Design was reviewed and

the following refinements are being considered:

Design Refinement #1 – revisions to the QEW horizontal alignment on the approach to Hurontario Street to better accommodate utility relocations:

Slight northerly realignment of the QEW west of Lynchmere Avenue

Slight southerly realignment of the QEW east of Lynchmere Avenue

Relocation of 100m of noise wall on the south side of the QEW.

No additional private property required.

Design Refinement #2 – refinements to the Mississauga Road Interchange ramps to improve safety and operations

Minor refinements to on-ramp from South Sheridan Way and Mississauga Road Northbound to QEW Eastbound.

Minor refinement to the on-ramp from Mississauga Road Southbound to QEW Eastbound.

Minor refinement to the off-ramp from QEW Westbound to Mississauga Road.

No additional property required.

Design Refinement #3 – refinement to lighting east of the Credit River to improve control of light trespass.

EA recommendation was to install the high mast light poles in the median, however, upon further review, proper illumination could not be maintained in all stages of construction if the lights were situated there.

Refinement is to place the conventional light poles along the north and south shoulders east of the Credit River.

With the proposed placement of poles and with proper orientation of luminaires on the poles, the light trespass can be better controlled (see Lighting board).

The following display outline the proposed refinements and provide that rationale for the refinements.

DESIGN REFINEMENTS


Design Refinement #1

DESIGN REFINEMENTS



Engineering rationale: many utilities to the north of the highway have to be relocated. A slight shift of the QEW

reduces encroachment to the north at the most constrained point and allows more space to accommodate all the utilities.

Significance of the change: - Minor - This proposed realignment will not require any additional property. Approximately

100 m of noise wall will need to be relocated on the south side of the eastbound lanes and will match the existing noise

wall height. The noise study undertaken as part of the Class EA did not identify any significant changes in sound at this

location. The minor relocation of the noise wall will not change this conclusion.

Engineering rationale: Minor refinements to on- and off-ramps to improve safety and operations.

Significance of the change: - Minor - no additional property required, no ecological features impacted and no significant

change in location of ramps (all within 7 - 9 m of the original design).

Engineering rationale: EA recommendation was to install high mast light poles in the median, however,

under further review, proper illumination could not be provided in all stages. Refinement is to use conventional

lighting on both sides of the highway.

Significance of the change: - Minor - Due to the close proximity of homes south of the eastbound lanes, the high mast

lights will be replaced with conventional lights. The lights are shorter (12 m vs 25 m) and can reduce light spilling out of

MTO property (see Lighting board)


LIGHTING

West of the Credit River

The QEW west of the Credit River will be illuminated by High Mast Lighting (HML) mainly within the median. Additional poles will be placed within the Mississauga Road interchange area.

To control light spill, the LED fixtures will be oriented to throw light towards the

QEW. They will be designed to have light patterns which will reduce light spill outside of MTO property.

East of the Credit River

The QEW east of the Credit River will be illuminated by conventional lighting.

For heritage reasons conventional lights with heritage ER brackets will be used on

the north and south edges of the bridge.

As explained on the previous boards, median mounted HML could not provide

proper illumination in all stages. Therefore conventional lights will be used and installed on the north and south side of the highway. These lights are shorter than HML poles and direct light towards the highway.

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Originally built in 1934, the QEW Credit River Bridge is considered a

Provincially Significant Heritage Bridge. The bridge was one of the first

major bridges constructed for the future QEW, and its design set the

standard for major bridges constructed along the corridor during the 1930’s

and 1940’s. Although widened in 1960, a thoughtful and intentional design

approach was taken, wherein original engineering principles associated

with the open-spandrel concrete arch design were conserved.

The bridge structure is now a landmark, and is an integral part of the Credit

River Valley cultural heritage landscape.

A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report was completed in 2008. That

evaluation concluded that the bridge is provincially significant.

The specific heritage attributes of the bridge include:

Original location spanning the Credit River

Its 1934 and 1960 construction, including its size, massing,

elements, features, and material

Seven-span, open-spandrel, reinforced-concrete arch construction

Modern steel light standards with the letters “ER” incorporated into

the design

Barriers and railings on north and south side of the bridge deck

Arches, abutments, piers

Embankments and watercourse

Views from the bridge deck looking south at the Credit River Valley

Views to the bridge and from within Credit River Valley, looking

south and north

QEW CREDIT RIVER BRIDGE - HERITAGE


HERITAGE ATTRIBUTES

Barrier and Railing Design

Decorative Features

Pier Column

Spandrel Column

Arch Design

‘ER’ Lighting

Credit River Valley


One of the major components of the project is rehabilitation of the existing QEW Credit River

Heritage Bridge.

A Strategic Conservation Plan is being developed for the QEW Credit River Bridge.

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, Strategic Conservation Plans (SCPs) are required for

Provincial Heritage Properties of Provincial Significance to assist in the management of the

heritage attributes and features.

The following summarizes the major design elements to be preserved:

All arches will be maintained.

All spandrel columns on the arches will be repaired or replaced and designed to

maintain the appearance of the existing columns.

Barriers will be designed to match 1960 widening design with current safety standards.

A clear noise wall will be provided on the south-side of the bridge to maintain the

existing views.

‘ER’ decorative lighting will be maintained.

Other elements of the rehabilitation include:

Replacement of the entire deck.

Reduction of the number of expansion joints – which should help reduce sound levels

and improve bridge longevity.

Repair of the bridge piers, abutments and footings.

REHABILITATION OF EXISTING STRUCTURE

‘ER’ lighting to be maintained

Spandrel columns to be repaired or

replaced

Arches to be maintained

Barriers will be designed to match 1960 design with current safety standards

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The new bridge will be designed to be sensitive of, and minimize the

impacts to, the heritage attributes of the existing QEW Credit River Bridge.

During the 2013 Class EA Study, the following two types of material were

proposed for the new bridge:

Concrete.

Steel.

Additional analysis, completed during this Detail Design assignment,

resulted in the recommendation that a 3-span concrete bridge be carried

forward.

The new bridge will include the following design features to complement

the existing bridge and maintain the appearance and aesthetics of the

QEW Credit River crossing:

A clear noise wall will be installed on the north side of the new structure and not obscure the ‘ER’ decorative lighting.

‘ER’ decorative lighting will be provided to match existing.

The piers will be designed to visually blend in with the vertical components of the existing bridge.

Views to the heritage arches of the existing bridge will be maximized, where possible.

DESIGN OF NEW STRUCTURE

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The Credit River has been used for thousands of years by Indigenous

People and subsequently European Settlers.

The Hogsback Archaeological Site was first identified in the 1930’s by the

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). It is located on the north side of the QEW

west of Stavebank Drive. During those investigations, multiple burials were

found. The site was first registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture

and Sport (MTCS) in 1971.

From 2010-2012, MTO undertook a Stage 1-3 Archaeological Assessment

of the QEW between Hurontario Street and Mississauga Road. Artifacts

and other cultural material were identified in the area around the Hogsback

Site.

In addition to numerous finds from European Settlers, the archaeologists

found a significant amount of ‘pre-contact’ indigenous artifacts dating back

to the Middle Woodland Period (400BC – AD 600).

As a result of these finds, MTO has been conducting additional Stage 3

assessment and Stage 4 excavation of the site since 2016. The site was

fully hand-excavated in order to identify and record all cultural features and

determine appropriate mitigation. This excavation was completed in early

autumn 2017.

Given the significance of the site, MTO employed archaeological site

monitors from the First Nation communities who have a cultural connection

to this site. These included the Mississauga’s of the New Credit, Six

Nations of the Grand River, the Haudenosaunee Chiefs Confederacy

Council via their representatives the Haudenosaunee Development

Institute, and the Huron-Wendat.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK NEAR THE CREDIT RIVER


Fish and Fish Habitat

Pier locations outside the watercourse.

Any in-water (or near-water) works will be conducted during appropriate timing

windows (July 1 - March 31 of any year).

Shoreline areas to be stabilized following disturbance to prevent erosion.

Terrestrial Habitat

Minimize vegetation removal.

Undertake work in accordance with Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and/or

Regulations under that Act.

Ensure appropriate removal and disposal of all construction-related debris

following construction.

Noise & Vibration

Replace the existing noise walls that are impacted by the proposed works.

5 m high transparent noise walls will be placed on the north side of the new

bridge and the south side of the existing Credit River Bridge.

During construction of the improvements, the contractor will be required to abide

by the Contract Operational Constraints and municipal noise control bylaws.

Preconstruction vibration analysis will be completed on nearby residences.

Air Quality

Standard best practices to reduce air quality impacts, such as minimized

equipment idling, covered loads and stockpiles, and regular dust suppression.

Archaeology & Heritage

Architectural elements of the new bridge have been developed to be sympathetic

to the heritage values of the existing Credit River Bridge.

Work will immediately cease if archaeological resources are unexpectedly

uncovered during construction and the appropriate authorities will be notified.

Environmental Monitoring

Regular environmental monitoring will be completed to ensure environmental

protection/mitigation measures are performing as intended.

A more complete list of the project’s environmental protection and mitigation measures will be contained in the Design and Construction Report, which will be available for a 30-day public comment period. Further mitigation measures will also be developed prior to construction and in consultation with appropriate agencies.

MITIGATION MEASURES


NOISE

As part of 2013 Class Environmental Assessment (EA), MTO completed an extensive noise assessment. The noise assessment determined that with the existing noise wall locations, the change in noise would be minor. However, placing a noise wall on the Credit River Bridge would result in a 5dBa reduction at all receivers along both sides of the Credit River valley north and south of the bridge.

In addition, the sound environment will benefit from the reduction in the number of expansion joints on the existing Credit River Bridge. As part of this project, the double expansion joints will be converted to single joints which will significantly reduce the bridge noise.

The location of existing, new and relocated noise walls are noted on the Design Plan presented on previous boards. The below photos show how these walls could look.

Transparent noise barriers have been recommended on the existing and new bridge. An example of a transparent noise wall is shown below.


Two Community Workshops will be held for the project. A date for the first

workshop will be scheduled after the first Public Information Centre.

The objectives of the workshops are to engage a group of community

members in more focused discussions to:

Act as a sounding board – a forum for discussing options and

sharing ideas regarding the project.

Provide input on the direction and recommendations of the project

from a community perspective.

Obtain a broader sense of community reactions and concerns, and

how these might be addressed.

If you would like to participate in the workshops please

sign up using the comment sheets provided.

You can also sign up to participate through the Contact Us form on the

study website (www.qewcreditriver.ca). Information on time and location

will be provided in the coming days to those that have signed up.

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP


1. Host Community Workshops (see Community Workshop board for

details).

2. Refine the recommended plan and staging plans based on feedback

received at PIC #1 and the Community Workshops.

3. Host Public Information Centre #2 (Fall 2018).

4. Refine and finalize the recommended plan, staging plans,

mitigations measures based on feedback.

5. Acquire any necessary approvals and permits.

6. Prepare and file a Design and Construction Report for a 30-day

public review period.

WHAT’S NEXT

Documents

QEW Credit River Bridge Detail Design Assignment from ... Information Centre 1... · QEW Credit River Bridge Detail Design Assignment from Mississauga Road to ... The purpose of this