Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2 and St. Lawrence Avenue flood protection measures

Consultation has concluded.

• Abbey Dawn Road Closure

  

  Construction on Abbey Dawn Road is scheduled to start as early as Monday, October 21, 2024, with R.W. Tomlinson as the contractor. Due to the complexity of the project, environmental regulations, and limited space, Abbey Dawn Road will be fully closed from the base of the hill to Highway 2 for the duration of the work.

  
  

  Originally scheduled for June 2024, construction was postponed to accommodate motorists during the LaSalle Causeway closure. With the Causeway open to motorists as of October 3, 2024, we are now preparing for the Abbey Dawn Road closure as early as October 21, 2024.

  
  

  Detour signs and message boards will be posted to inform and guide travellers. The City’s weekly traffic report and social media channels will provide updates ahead of the closure.

  
  

  The overall flood protection measures project will continue through the winter and spring, with completion anticipated for spring 2025 (weather permitting).

  
  

  Related Traffic Updates:

  • Highway 2 to return to normal eastbound and westbound traffic as early as October 21, 2024.
  • St Lawrence Avenue will be reduced to one lane, with traffic control measures in place to maintain flow and ensure pedestrian safety. This may take effect as early as October 23, 2024, and continue until February 2025, with paving and landscaping to be completed in spring 2025.
  • Abbey Dawn Road: Full road closure from October 21, 2024 to February 2025, with surface treatment and landscaping to follow in spring 2025.

  Please note that all dates are subject to change based on weather conditions

  Stay informed by subscribing to the Roads and Parking Notices Newsletter (https://www.cityofkingston.ca/subscribe/) or visiting the City’s webpage (https://www.cityofkingston.ca/roads-parking-and-transportation/road-maintenance/road-closures/) for regular traffic updates.

  
  

  The image above shows the approximate Abbey Dawn Road closure limits (red).

  
  

• Temporary Wildlife Fence

  

  The City of Kingston has hired Dig’N Dirt to install temporary wildlife fencing along Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2, and St. Lawrence Avenue. The purpose of this fence is to protect local wildlife. The installation of this temporary fence is a requirement from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks in advance of future construction activities for the flood protection measures project, such that turtle nesting occurs in safer areas, and outside of the future construction site. The temporary fence location and design was determined by the project’s ecologist. The fence is designed with turnarounds to help guide turtles and other animals to the Highway 2 culvert for safe crossing. An ecologist is on-site daily, supervising the installation. While on-site the ecologist has observed various species of birds nesting within the project limits and has educated the contractor on how best to install the fence while keeping disturbance to a minimum. If distress is exhibited by a nesting pair, work will cease temporarily until the birds have calmed or temporarily vacated the immediate area, allowing for installation to be completed quickly and the birds to return to the nest site. Please note, that there is little risk of nest abandonment, as these species are accustomed to anthropogenic habitats and are frequently exposed to human activity from the marina and vehicular traffic.

  This temporary fence will also act as an erosion and sedimentation control measure during construction and will remain in place until a permanent wildlife fence is installed as a part of the flood protection measures project. Although the primary objective of the flood protection measures project is to provide enhanced flood protection along all three roadways, the project also aims to protect and enhance the natural environment through appropriate design and monitoring measures both preconstruction, during construction, and post-construction. Further information on this can be found in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which will be posted on the project Get Invovled Kingston (GIK) webpage once available. In the meantime, the Public Engagement Summary Report on the GIK webpage is a great resource.

  This installation work could be completed as early as this Thursday. You can also track the status of this work via the City’s My Neighbourhood App.

  Temporary signage will be installed by the end of May to prevent disturbances to the fence (see the image).

• Time-Sensitive Culvert Repair Works at Highway 2, East of Abbey Dawn Road

  The City of Kingston has provided permission for Tomlinson to complete short-term time-sensitive repair work to the Highway 2 centreline culvert immediately east of Abbey Dawn Road this month. Workers will wear brightly coloured safety vests and employ a courteous and professional manner while on site. All traffic movements will be maintained except for a restriction for southbound Abbey Dawn Road traffic making a left turn onto Highway 2 (eastbound); these drivers will be signed to use Middle Road as a detour. Speeds within the construction limits will be reduced to 60 km/h, and traffic along Highway 2 in this area will be reduced to one lane and controlled with temporary traffic signals.

  The need for this repair work was identified through recent investigative fieldwork for the Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2, and St. Lawrence Avenue flood protection measures project. It is advantageous to complete the repairs at this time due to the low water levels in the Madoma Marsh. Although in-water works are expected to be limited, we are coordinating with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority to ensure appropriate environmental protection measures are employed during construction.

  The time-sensitive culvert repair work is planned to be completed before winter. Please note that further work in this area will be completed as a part of the Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2, and St. Lawrence Avenue flood protection measures project, which is expected to commence construction in 2023. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this work, please feel free to contact Radha Malhotra (Project Engineer - Stormwater, City of Kingston) directly by phone at (613) 328-3515 or via email at rmalhotra@cityofkingston.ca.

• Canadian Navigable Waters Act

  

  The City of Kingston hereby gives notice that an application has been made to the Minister of Transport, pursuant to the Canadian Navigable Waters Act for approval of the work described herein and its site and plans.

  Pursuant to paragraph 7(2) of the said Act, the City of Kingston has deposited with the Minister of Transport, on the on-line Common Project Search Registry (http://cps.canada.ca/) under the NPP File Number 2022-406285 a description of the following work, its site and plans:

  • The Study Area is located in the east end of the City of Kingston along the shores of Abbey Dawn Creek and the Saint Lawrence River, approximately midway between Howe Island and Wolfe Island. This area is known as the mouth of the Bateau Channel between Kingston and the 1000 Islands. The Study Area includes three roads: Abbey Dawn Road from Highway 2 northerly 350 m; St. Lawrence Avenue from Highway 2 to Treasure Island; and the section of Highway 2 bounded by these roads. The Study Area is located within a largely natural, undisturbed landscape with the exception of nearby residential dwellings, a former Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) provincial highway (Highway 2), Treasure Island Marina and a causeway leading to Treasure Island, constructed in the 1950’s. If traveling from the west, take exit 623 off of Highway 401 to Middle Road in Kingston. Continue for 3.6 km before turning right onto Abbey Dawn Road. Continue driving south on Abbey Dawn Road for 4.3 km and you have reached the Study Area.
  • Abbey Dawn Road will be partially raised, its shoulders widened, a CSP culvert replaced with a box culvert, and scour protection installed along the east channel bank to provide enhanced flood protection and a constant shoulder width along Abbey Dawn Creek. The new culvert will be embedded 300 mm and natural substrate will be placed throughout its length. Highway 2 will be raised throughout most of the Study Area, tying into existing grade raises to the east and west (no impacts to a watercourse). St. Lawrence Avenue will be raised throughout most of its length, tying into existing grade raises to the north and south. Existing lane widths range from 3.2 m to 3.5 m, and it is proposed to reduce all lane widths to a consistent 3.0 m. Vertical embankment treatment will line most of the west side of the road to allow for a wider shoulder width with a smaller in-water/wetland footprint. Four culverts currently exist under St. Lawrence Avenue. Three of the culverts are 1.2 m (rise) by 1.8 m (span) elliptical CSPs and one is a 1 m by 1 m CSP. These four culverts are being replaced with three culverts. The new box culverts will be on the existing alignment of three of the culverts; from north to south, Culverts 1, 3 and 4. A water’s edge lookout feature is proposed along St. Lawrence Avenue along the east side of road. The feature is approximately 16 m long and 4 m wide and will be located almost entirely within a portion of cattail wetland (i.e. not extending into open water).
  • All land proposed for alteration is owned by the City of Kingston. As part of the works, numerous natural environmental inventories and archaeological assessments have been completed. The sites have been cleared, and permits are now being submitted to Transport Canada’s Navigation Protection Program, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry.

  This work is being undertaken in, on, over, under, through or across Abbey Dawn Creek and the Bateau Channel / St. Lawrence River at Kingston, Ontario in front of Lot Number 7 and Lot Number 8, Pittsburgh First and Broken Front. Specifically, the work adjacent to Abbey Dawn Creek will take place on Abbey Dawn Road from its intersection with Highway 2 to approximately 210 m north. The work along St. Lawrence Avenue will occur from its intersection with Highway 2 to approximately 440 m south.

  Comments regarding the effect of this work on marine navigation can be sent through the Common Project Search site mentioned above under the Comment section (search by the above referenced number) or if you do not have access to the internet, by sending your comments directly to:

  Navigation Protection Program – Transport Canada

  100 S Front St, 1st Floor
  Sarnia ON
  N7T 2M4

  Transport Canada (TC) will not make your comments on a project available to the public on the online public registry. However, any information related to a work is considered as unclassified public record and could be accessible upon legal request. As such, the information and records provided should not contain confidential or sensitive information. If you want to provide confidential or sensitive information that you think should not be made public, please contact TC before submitting it.

  However, comments will be considered only if they are in writing (electronic means preferable) and are received not later than 30 days after the publication of the last notice. Although all comments conforming to the above will be considered, no individual response will be sent.

  Posted at Kingston, Ontario this 10th day of May, 2022.

  The City of Kingston

• Public Engagement Update Nov. 25, 2021

  Staff are finalizing the public engagement summary report and now anticipate sharing it in December, as part of our commitment to keeping you informed. We are reviewing all of the feedback we received from residents, community groups and other interested parties.

  To signup to receive project updates please email rmalhotra@cityofkingston.ca

• Engagement summary update

  Staff continue to review the feedback submitted by residents, community groups and other other stakeholders. As part of our commitment to keeping you informed, the project team will share the public engagement summary report at the end of November.

• City begins planning flood protection measures for Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2 and St. Lawrence Avenue

  KINGSTON, ONT./ August 11, 2021 – The City of Kingston is beginning a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) to provide enhanced flood protection along Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2 and St. Lawrence Avenue. The City has hired BT Engineering Inc. (BTE) to undertake design as a Schedule B project through the MCEA process, which is a planning process for municipal infrastructure legislated by the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The MCEA Study will determine the design and staging for the enhanced flood protection measures and consider their effects on the natural, social and cultural environments.

  Abbey Dawn Road, Highway 2 and St. Lawrence Avenue have been significantly impacted by changing water levels in the St. Lawrence River and the Madoma Marsh, including overtopping by high water and wind events. Flood protection measures for each roadway will include some combination of raising the road elevation, installing new or larger culverts, and shoreline upgrades. Lookout features from the City’s approved Waterfront Master Plan on St. Lawrence Avenue and Abbey Dawn Road are also included in the scope of work for this project. Over the coming months, the City and BTE will:

  • Inform residents of the proposed flood protection measures.
  • Receive feedback on the preliminary design concepts, including proposed lookout features from the City’s approved Waterfront Master Plan.
  • Prepare a required Environmental Study Summary Report to be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

  Public consultation opportunities

  • Register to attend an online public open house on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. There will be a 20-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session. Watch the meeting on the City’s YouTube channel where it will be closed-captioned, live-streamed and available for viewing after the presentation.
  • Give feedback on the preliminary design concepts from Aug. 25 to Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. Comments can be submitted online at Get Involved Kingston, over the phone by calling 613-546-0000 or by mail. To submit comments by mail, call 613-546-0000 to a request paper comment form and a postage-paid envelope to return the survey to City Hall.

  This City of Kingston project is sponsored in part by the Government of Canada with an investment of over $9.8 million for City-wide shoreline upgrades through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund program.

• Kingston residents to be better protected against extreme weather events and flooding

  August 28, 2019 — Now more than ever, communities need help adapting to the frequent and intensifying weather events caused by climate change. Reducing the impact of natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires is critical to keeping Canadian families safe, protecting local businesses and supporting a strong economy and the middle class. Read the news release from Infrastructure Canada.