City of London Rehabilitation of Highbury Avenue South and the Wenige Expressway Bridge Online Public Information Centre December 16, 2019
Purpose The purpose of this Public Information Centre is to: • Advise you of the proposed rehabilitation work on Highbury Avenue South & the Wenige Expressway Bridge Provide an overview of the Study • Area, existing and future conditions • Provide an overview of construction staging • Provide an overview of existing ecological conditions 2
Study Area Overview Phase 1 Construction Phase 2 Construction Overall South of Wenige From North Limit of Highway All works will be within Expressway Bridge to 401 to South of Wenige the Highbury Avenue Hamilton Road Expressway Bridge Right of Way 3
Project Timeline Phase 1 Construction (Bridge): 2020 Wenige Bridge and Multi-use Pathway reconstruction from • approximately 220m South of Wenige Expressway Bridge to Hamilton Road Phase 2 Construction (Road): 2021 - 2022 Stage 1A & 1B : : 2 2021 • Highbury Avenue Rehabilitation from North Limit Highway 401 to the South limit of Commissioners Road Interchange Stage 2A & 2B : : 2 2022 • Highbury Avenue Rehabilitation from South limit of Commissioners Road Interchange to South limit of Phase 1 construction 4
Phase 1 Construction (Bridge) Wenige Bridge - Existing Conditions: 54 years old • • 2-span concrete deck structure on steel plate girders • Carries 4 lanes of traffic; AADT is ~48,000 • Last major rehabilitation was completed in 1989 Temporary concrete barriers were • installed on East and West sides of the bridge in 2009 and 2011 as metal railings were damaged • Drainage improvements • Several cracks along the existing median barrier North of the bridge • Invasive species (Phragmites) are present 5
Phase 1 Construction (Bridge) Proposed Improvements include: • Replacement of bridge deck and bearings • Replacement of damaged railings/barriers and abutment repair • Pavement reconstruction • Improve drainage by removing deck drains and adding catchbasins on either side Upgrade median barrier • • Improve street-lighting • Construct new pathway and retaining wall under bridge 6
Phase 1 Construction (Bridge) Anticipated Timeline: Construction Start: March 2020 Completion date: May 2021 All work will be completed within the existing Right of Way. 7
Phase 1 Construction (Bridge) Construction Staging: • Stage 0: Median crossovers will be constructed Stage 1: Construction and • rehabilitation work on the West side of the bridge. • Stage 2: Construction and rehabilitation work on the East side of the bridge. • Stage 3: Median barrier and street- lighting improvements • Travelled lanes will be reduced to 1-lane in each direction for all Stages of construction • Posted speed in the construction zone is 60 km/h • All lanes open over winter shutdown months (December to March) 8
Pathway Construction and Detours Pathway Construction: • New pathway construction under the Wenige Expressway bridge (South side) to accommodate a future extension of the Thames Valley Pathway (TVP) Multi-use Pathway for public benefit as per the City’s Bicycle Master Plan • It is intended that public usage of the trail be maintained as much as possible during construction to ensure continued pedestrian access is maintained • Short term trail closures should be anticipated during construction 9
Phase 2 Construction (Road) Existing Conditions: • 4-lane Rural Freeway Divided, Design Speed of 120 km/h Most of the roadway section is comprised of concrete • pavement • Substandard speed change lanes at Bradley and Commissioners Road Interchanges • Substandard protection systems • Damaged & Corroded culverts • Poor connectivity for small wildlife under the road 10
Phase 2 Construction (Road) Proposed Improvements Include: • Pavement rehabilitation • Culvert replacement and/or rehabilitation • Upgrading speed change lane lengths to meet standards • Upgrading roadside protection systems Opportunity to incorporate wildlife passages under Highbury Avenue South to • help connect wildlife habitats Construction Staging: • Posted speed in the construction zone will be 80 km/h Stage 0: Median crossovers will be constructed • • Stage 1 – Highbury Avenue Rehabilitation from North Limit Highway 401 to the South limit of Commissioners Road Interchange • Stage 2 – Highbury Avenue Rehabilitation from South limit of Commissioners Road Interchange to South limit of Phase 1 construction 11
Phase 2 Construction Construction Staging: 12
Existing Ecological Features Study Overview Map 13
Existing Ecological Features The landscape within the general study area is residential, agricultural, and unused field. The Right-of-Way (ROW) is fairly open with limited mature woody vegetation. Natural land cover is primarily limited to the watercourse crossings at the north and south ends of the study area, which include the dense riparian corridor along the South Branch of the Thames River. Technical: • There are 6 existing culvert crossings along Highbury Avenue South. • 2 of these culverts convey watercourses suitable for fish habitat • Wenige Expressway Bridge crosses South Branch of Thames River • Existing hydrological conditions consist mainly of agricultural drainage, local road ditches, tributaries of the South Branch of the Thames River and drainage from the Westminster Pond/ Pond Mills Wetland Complex Natural Resources - Map 5 London Plan: • South Branch of the Thames River • Meadow Lily Woods Environmentally Significant Area • Westminster Ponds/ Mills PSW Complex 14
Existing Ecological Features Aquatic Resources: • The South Branch of the Thames River at this location is considered a medium-sized river containing approximately 94 fish species. There are slow-flowing stretches up to 4 m deep, as well as shallower, fast-following • sections over a substrate comprised of predominantly boulders and cobble, with gravel, sand, with gravel and silt. • The river is a known warm water ecosystem containing a diverse mix of bait, forage and game fish species. • The river is also home to several Species at Risk including critical habitat for the Round Pigtoe (Pleurobema sintoxia) mussel. Terrestrial Resources: Located on either side of Highbury Avenue South to the north and south of the Bradley • Avenue crossing, is the Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills PSW complex. • The area is surrounded by a Provincially Significant Wetland that potentially contains Species at Risk. Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) nests were observed under the Wenige Expressway Bridge, none were noted within the culverts. • Nesting habitat for turtles is present under the Wenige Expressway Bridge, although no nests were confirmed during the field investigations. 15
Existing Ecological Features Vegetation Communities: • Woodlands occur along Highbury Avenue South Primarily related to the southern watercourse crossings associated with the PSW and the • South Branch of the Thames River at the north end. • There is limited mature woody vegetation within the road Right of Way. Invasive Species: Invasive European Common Reed (Phragmites australis australis) is present throughout • the project limits, particularly ditches. • An Invasive Species Management Plan will include measures for treatment of Phragmites and monitoring following Best Management Practices (i.e., prior to construction). • Clean Equipment Protocol for Industry will be followed to prevent introducing or spreading invasive species. 16
Existing Ecological Features Species of Conservation Concern: Seventeen species of conservation concern were identified during background • investigations and may occur within the project limits • Critical Habitat for Round Pigtoe Mussel identified within the South Branch of the Thames River • A Mitigation Plan has been prepared to ensure no negative impacts including: • Netting bridge prior to the nesting season to protect nesting birds Ecological mitigation measures, restoration, Barn Swallow habitat kiosk and monitoring • 17
Existing Ecological Features Identified Species of concern: COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME PROVINCIAL STATUS FEDERAL STATUS Mussels Rayed Bean Villosa fabalis END END Kidneyshell Ptychobranchus fasciolaris END END Rainbow Villosa iris SC END Wavy-rayed Lampmussel THR SC Lampsilis fasciola Round Pigtoe END END (CH) Pleurobema sintoxia Fish Silver Shiner Notropis photogenis THR THR Pugnose Minnow THR THR Opsopoeodus emiliae Northern Brook Lamprey SC SC Ichthyomyzon fossor Reptiles Northern Map Turtle Graptemys geographica SC SC Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina SC SC Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii THR THR Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera END END Birds Eastern Wood-pewee Contopus virens SC SC Riparia riparia Bank Swallow THR THR Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica THR THR Plants Green Dragon Arisaema dracontium SC SC Butternut Juglans cinerea END END *THR: Threatened, SC: Special Concern, END: Endangered, CH: Critical Habitat 18
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