It’s officially construction season in Ottawa, as city officials kicked off a major slate of infrastructure projects Friday.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee chair Coun. Tim Tierney joined Mayor Mark Sutcliffe on 4550 Bank Street to launch the city’s annual construction season, unveiling nearly $700 million in infrastructure projects ranging from road rehabilitation and bridge repairs to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater upgrades. City officials said it will involve roughly 700 infrastructure projects across the capital this year. 

Under the major investment is the $50-million Bank Street widening upgrade, a push that Sutcliffe said will help prepare Ottawa for an expected population boom over the next 25 years.

The corridor serves as a key commuter route into Ottawa’s south end, an area that has seen rapid residential growth in recent years. 

“This Bank Street upgrade project is tremendously important to serve the growth that we’re seeing in the south of the city, and you can’t build a small city, an urban area with rural infrastructure,” Councillor Steven Desroches said. 

Intended to improve access not only for drivers, but also for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, Desroches noted that residents currently cannot safely walk or cycle to nearby destinations like the Fred Barrett Arena. 

The multi-year project will add a new four-lane roadway, sidewalks on both sides of Bank Street and five protected intersections, while upgrading underground infrastructure throughout the corridor. 

Desroches noted that Ottawa’s population growth is projected to reach 500,000 people in the next 25 years, making roads and sidewalks investment, as well as water infrastructure a critical point.

The announcement comes as residents continue voicing frustration over worsening congestion tied to roadwork and transit-related lane closures across the city, particularly along Highway 417. When asked by a reporter about these concerns, Sutcliffe acknowledged the disruptions and said the city is trying to find “better solutions” to manage construction impacts. 

“We need to be more mindful of what motorists and commuters are going through, we’re doing everything we can to improve our roads and improve our infrastructure in the city,” Sutcliffe said. 

“There’s going to be a little bit of pain, but we have to do the best job possible,” Sutcliffe said.

In a separate interview with iPolitics, Coun. Tierney said Ottawa has increasingly shifted toward bundling infrastructure work into larger construction phases. He said the approach shortens timelines and avoids repeated disruptions caused by piecemeal roadwork.