HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-14-044 - Noise Exemption - Weber Str Road Widening Staff Rep►�►r
I r Infrastruc�ture5ervrresDepartment wvwuukitchenerra
REPORT TO: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 7, 2014
SUBMITTED BY: Justin Readman, Director, Transportation Services
PREPARED BY: Stephanie Brasseur, Traffic Project Coordinator
(519-741-2200 x7373)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 10
DATE OF REPORT: March 18, 2014
REPORT NO.: INS-14-044
SUBJECT: NOISE EXEMPTION —WEBER STREET WIDENING
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Region of Waterloo and its contractor(s) be exempt from the provisions of
Chapter 450 Noise of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code Article 6 Construction Work
during the Weber Street widening contract No 2013-121 in the City of Kitchener. The
request for the noise by-law exemption is between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Monday to Friday for the period April 1, 2014 to December 19, 2014.
BACKGROUND:
The ongoing Region of Waterloo — Weber Street widening project contract #2013-121 include
the widening of Weber Street from College Street to the city limit in the City of Kitchener. In
order to complete the construction work within the project schedule and minimize traffic
disruption, periodic night-time and weekend work must take place.
REPORT:
The project is ongoing and commenced in 2013 and the contractor is required to keep idling of
construction equipment to a minimum and to maintain equipment in good working order to
reduce noise. Previous work that took place in 2013 was coordinated with the project team for
night works and communicated to Council along with formal notifications to residents with
additional information about the project.
The general work relative to the noise exemption involves the following construction activities:
• Underground service connections
• Bridge construction
• Railroad transfers and control arm relocations
• Traffic control set up
• Final paving and line painting
5 - 1
These operations are preferably carried out at night when traffic volumes are lower in order to
minimize disruption to traffic and to improve worker safety.
Noise protocol will be followed, which covers administrative measures such as scheduling of
noisy activities at times of least impact, selection of haulage routes to minimize close proximity
to neighbours, and maintaining contact with residents.
The contractor will complete as much work as possible during the permitted 7:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m. construction time period. However due to the impacts of some types of work that require
lane closures or full road closures, work will be executed after hours or at night-time in an effort
to reduce the significant impact to travel patterns within the City of Kitchener and Region of
Waterloo. It is anticipated that work for the 2014 Weber Street widening will be required for the
following dates for underground service installations and connections along with road
realignment, rail operations, paving operations and final pavement markings:
• June 18 to 25, 2014
• August 13 to 20,2014
• September 24 to 30, 2014
In order to expedite the construction and allow extended hours of work to take place for this
project, thereby minimizing traffic impacts, we recommend that this request for a noise by-law
exemption be granted. While specific operations for these works are tentative at this time, an
update will be provided to Council with seven (7) days of notice order to communicate the
intentions of the contractor once approved through the Region of Waterloo/City of Kitchener
project team. The noise exemption is sought at this time in order to provide information in
advance of the Council summer schedule while time permits for review.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This initiative falls under the Community Priority of Quality of Life. "Work with partners, including
all orders of government, to create a culture of safety in our community." The implementation of
improved traffic flow and safety will provide positive direction for motorists.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
All affected residents and property owners are advised of their widening projects by the Region
of Waterloo, including expected after hours and night-time work operations, through a hand
delivered notification.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
5 - 2