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Last updated May 17, 2026
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Riverside Drive construction starts May 19th
Beginning May 19, Riverside Drive eastbound lanes will close between Data Centre Road and Neil Way (near Pleasant Park Drive). All traffic will be redirected to Riverside Drive westbound via a temporary road, with one lane in each direction. Expect delays while construction is underway.
This work is part of the Bank Street Renewal Project, replacing aging sanitary and storm sewers.
> Click here to find out more
This work is part of the Bank Street Renewal Project, replacing aging sanitary and storm sewers.
> Click here to find out more
Ongoing summer 2026 projects
- New sidewalk segments on north side of Belfast Road – New sidewalk segments are to be constructed east of the intersection between 805 Belfast Road and St-Laurent Boulevard. Construction expected Summer 2026. Note: The sidewalk segment immediately in front of the OC Transpo facility at Belfast Road and St-Laurent Boulevard was descoped (removed) due to conflicts with the electric bus project. Depending on the status of the OC Transpo ZEB project, it may be added back in the future.
- Belfast Road and Trainyards Drive Intersection Improvements - Construction will start later this month on improvements at the intersection of Belfast Road and Trainyards Drive. The project will include a crossride on the south leg of the intersection to improve the safety of cyclists travelling between the multi-use pathways along both Belfast Road and Trainyards Drive. It also includes adding missing segments of sidewalk on the north side of Belfast Road between Trainyards Drive and St-Laurent Boulevard. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2026.
- Pathway renewal on Tremblay. Road, from Belfast to Avenue U
- Sidewalk renewal project on Tremblay Road, between Avenue S and Avenue T
- Cecil Morrison Park Field House (1332 Avenue O) - The Field House at Cecil Morrison Park will undergo upgrades this summer. Work will consist of plumbing improvements and a bathroom upgrade (replacing water closet and washroom sinks).
[Source of information: Councillor Carr and The Vistas]
Pothole patching through hot mix asphalt
April 30, 2026 — Through the month of May as suppliers of hot asphalt come online, this will become the primary material for pothole patching. This is the material of choice because it can be compacted manually or by machine, can be applied with asphalt adhesive to create a better bond to the road and results in a longer lasting repair. Hot mix is used for most, if not all, asphalt repairs including potholes, skin patches and ironwork base repairs.
Crews will continue with pothole repair work through the summer! While pothole repairs are not permanent, the work done in warmer, dryer conditions is often longer lasting. Since the start of the winter season, the City’s team has filled over 106,350 potholes and they’re not done!
[Source of information: Councillor Carr]
> Residents can report a pothole on the road, by visiting Ottawa.ca
Crews will continue with pothole repair work through the summer! While pothole repairs are not permanent, the work done in warmer, dryer conditions is often longer lasting. Since the start of the winter season, the City’s team has filled over 106,350 potholes and they’re not done!
[Source of information: Councillor Carr]
> Residents can report a pothole on the road, by visiting Ottawa.ca
Crews will continue with pothole repair work throughout the summer! (Photo from Bike Ottawa Bluesky account)
Residential developments in Eastway Gardens area
An estimated total of over 7,000 residential units could be developed in the wider Eastway Gardens area within the next few years. Non-governmental, commercial, and residential developments numbering 2,520 units have recently been built, are currently under construction, or are in the planning stages. In addition, as many as 4,800 residential units in the Canada Public Land Bank (CPLB) inventory could be built in the area within a few years.
Mar 30, 2026, Ottawa Citizen — NCC reaches lease deal for first Ottawa property on affordable housing land bank
Lease agreement for the vacant lot at 1460 Riverside Drive is the first for an Ottawa-Gatineau property listed on the Canada Public Land Bank.
By Ben Andrews
March, 2026 — Construction is underway on Phase 1 of a major mixed-use, five-tower project by Colonnade Bridge Port at 25 Pickering Place (also known as 1330 Avenue K). Located near the Via Rail station, Phase 1 plans include two high-rise towers of 14 and 28 storeys, providing approximately 483 rental suites along with ground-floor commercial space. Eventually, six towers will be built. Drivers will see a construction site vehicle entry point on Tremblay Road. (Read Councillor Marty Carr's Questions and Answers.)
January, 2026 — MATA at 300 Tremblay Road began advertising rental suites and a ground-floor commercial space. A recent addition to Eastway Gardens, this multi-use six-storey building with 100 units and a commercial space was built on the site of the former White Horse Restaurant.
> Read more on the "Residential Developments" page
Mar 30, 2026, Ottawa Citizen — NCC reaches lease deal for first Ottawa property on affordable housing land bank
Lease agreement for the vacant lot at 1460 Riverside Drive is the first for an Ottawa-Gatineau property listed on the Canada Public Land Bank.
By Ben Andrews
March, 2026 — Construction is underway on Phase 1 of a major mixed-use, five-tower project by Colonnade Bridge Port at 25 Pickering Place (also known as 1330 Avenue K). Located near the Via Rail station, Phase 1 plans include two high-rise towers of 14 and 28 storeys, providing approximately 483 rental suites along with ground-floor commercial space. Eventually, six towers will be built. Drivers will see a construction site vehicle entry point on Tremblay Road. (Read Councillor Marty Carr's Questions and Answers.)
January, 2026 — MATA at 300 Tremblay Road began advertising rental suites and a ground-floor commercial space. A recent addition to Eastway Gardens, this multi-use six-storey building with 100 units and a commercial space was built on the site of the former White Horse Restaurant.
> Read more on the "Residential Developments" page
ALTO HIGH-SPEED RAIL UPDATES
Downtown station "not feasible"
Eastway Gardens preferred location of Alto train station
May 2, 2026 — Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon and Martin Imbleau, the CEO of Alto, the Crown corporation in charge of the proposed Toronto-Quebec City high-speed rail line, both say a station in the heart of downtown Ottawa is simply not feasible. (See CTV News video below). That leaves the Via Rail/O-Train Line 1 station on Tremblay Road as the preferred location, at last for the time being.
Alto, the Crown corporation developing the Quebec City-Toronto high-speed rail, is currently considering the Phase 1 route between Montreal and Ottawa and potential locations for the Ottawa station, subject to technical specifications and public consultation. Once the route and station locations are confirmed by late 2026, land acquisition will begin, with construction on the initial Ottawa-Montreal segment anticipated to begin in 2029.
Alto, the Crown corporation developing the Quebec City-Toronto high-speed rail, is currently considering the Phase 1 route between Montreal and Ottawa and potential locations for the Ottawa station, subject to technical specifications and public consultation. Once the route and station locations are confirmed by late 2026, land acquisition will begin, with construction on the initial Ottawa-Montreal segment anticipated to begin in 2029.
(ABOVE) May 02, 2026 — ‘We would destroy the [downtown] neighbourhood’: Alto CEO rules out downtown Ottawa stop by Ted Raymond, CTV News Ottawa
May 1, 2026 — Officials dim hopes for downtown Ottawa high-speed rail station
Although he said no decision has been finalized, Alto CEO Martin Imbleau explained to Radio-Canada’s Première Heure Thursday that a downtown Ottawa station would have to be underground.
That would slow trains and make the project more complicated without growing ridership, he said in French.
An Alto spokesperson told Radio-Canada Friday a downtown station would be very, very difficult to do.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon also spoke out against the option when asked during a news conference on Friday.
“Ottawa has an architecturally renowned train station,” MacKinnon said. “That is one site that will obviously be assessed, but I would not rule out exploring other sites closer to downtown.”
> Justin Ball · CBC News Ottawa · Posted: May 01, 2026: Officials dim hopes for downtown Ottawa high-speed rail station - Alto CEO, transport minister each talk of difficulty of downtown hub
Although he said no decision has been finalized, Alto CEO Martin Imbleau explained to Radio-Canada’s Première Heure Thursday that a downtown Ottawa station would have to be underground.
That would slow trains and make the project more complicated without growing ridership, he said in French.
An Alto spokesperson told Radio-Canada Friday a downtown station would be very, very difficult to do.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon also spoke out against the option when asked during a news conference on Friday.
“Ottawa has an architecturally renowned train station,” MacKinnon said. “That is one site that will obviously be assessed, but I would not rule out exploring other sites closer to downtown.”
> Justin Ball · CBC News Ottawa · Posted: May 01, 2026: Officials dim hopes for downtown Ottawa high-speed rail station - Alto CEO, transport minister each talk of difficulty of downtown hub
Eyes on Tremblay Station says Alto CEO
While Alto CEO Martin Imbleau stressed that final decisions have yet to be made, he points to the existing Via Rail and O-Train Line 1 station on Tremblay Road as having more potential than the former train station downtown.
"Let me be clear that there’s no way that we could do an above-ground station there [downtown]. There’s simply no space.” He also rules out a downtown underground station.
"Let me be clear that there’s no way that we could do an above-ground station there [downtown]. There’s simply no space.” He also rules out a downtown underground station.
(ABOVE) May 02, 2026 — “It is true that the downtown Senate building, the old station, has been mentioned many times, but let me be clear that there’s no way that we could do an above-ground station there. There’s simply no space,” said Martin Imbleau on Newstalk 580 CFRA’s CFRA Weekends with Andrew Pinsent on Saturday.
Two possible sites for the Ottawa Alto Station were originally identified as downtown's former Union Station and the VIA Rail/O-Train transit hub on Tremblay Road.
Now that the former Union Station has been effectively ruled out, the current Via Rail transit hub is the preferred location. This site allows for a "through station" that minimizes travel times, potentially reaching Montreal in one hour. It is favoured by the federal transport minister and the Alto CEO because of its existing infrastructure, ease of expansion compared to downtown, and its connection to Via Rail and the O-Train LRT Line 1. Not only is this site a major transit hub, but it is a short distance to downtown and adjacent to Highway 417 Queensway East and West access ramps.
Now that the former Union Station has been effectively ruled out, the current Via Rail transit hub is the preferred location. This site allows for a "through station" that minimizes travel times, potentially reaching Montreal in one hour. It is favoured by the federal transport minister and the Alto CEO because of its existing infrastructure, ease of expansion compared to downtown, and its connection to Via Rail and the O-Train LRT Line 1. Not only is this site a major transit hub, but it is a short distance to downtown and adjacent to Highway 417 Queensway East and West access ramps.
How might Alto high-speed rail project impact Eastway Gardens?
Eastway Gardens could be significantly impacted if the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail megaproject goes ahead. Construction would begin simultaneously at the Ottawa and Montreal ends of the corridor in 2029.
Since the Via Rail terminal/O-Train station on Tremblay Road is a strong contender for the site of the Alto train station, some Eastway Gardens residents are concerned about potential displacement. For example, the 60-metre-wide high-speed right-of-way would likely be routed from the city's eastern entry point through the residential neighbourhood to the Via Rail transit hub on Tremblay Road, potentially resulting in significant property expropriation. As well, construction of the Alto train station at Via Rail would cause major disruption.
However, Alta Vista Ward Councillor Marty Carr has identified a third location, not formally mentioned by Minister MacKinnon or CEO Imbleau. She sees the vacant tract of federal land at the intersection of Tremblay Road and St. Laurent Boulevard as a viable option. Locating the Alto station on this site would likely result in fewer disruptions to the residential part of the neighbourhood, at least until high-speed tracks between Ottawa and Toronto are installed much later in Phase 2. (Read more below)
> Read more on the "Alto High-Speed Rail" page
Since the Via Rail terminal/O-Train station on Tremblay Road is a strong contender for the site of the Alto train station, some Eastway Gardens residents are concerned about potential displacement. For example, the 60-metre-wide high-speed right-of-way would likely be routed from the city's eastern entry point through the residential neighbourhood to the Via Rail transit hub on Tremblay Road, potentially resulting in significant property expropriation. As well, construction of the Alto train station at Via Rail would cause major disruption.
However, Alta Vista Ward Councillor Marty Carr has identified a third location, not formally mentioned by Minister MacKinnon or CEO Imbleau. She sees the vacant tract of federal land at the intersection of Tremblay Road and St. Laurent Boulevard as a viable option. Locating the Alto station on this site would likely result in fewer disruptions to the residential part of the neighbourhood, at least until high-speed tracks between Ottawa and Toronto are installed much later in Phase 2. (Read more below)
> Read more on the "Alto High-Speed Rail" page
Vacant land at Tremblay Road and St. Laurent Boulevard most likely location of Alto train station according to Councillor Marty Carr
> April 26, 2026 — (The Ottawa Lookout) Could high-speed rail ever reach downtown? Councillors say no
April 29, 2026 — Alta Vista Ward Coun. Marty Carr thinks the matter over a downtown station is much ado about nothing because she thinks it’s highly unlikely that high-speed rail would ever reach the core, anyway.
Instead, she thinks the most likely location is on a vacant parcel of land at Tremblay Road and St. Laurent Blvd.
While in support of the location, she says it’s a concern for residents who live in the Eastway Gardens neighbourhood — sometimes known as the alphabet streets — where fear of being forced out of their homes isn’t new.
[Source: The Ottawa Lookout]
April 29, 2026 — Alta Vista Ward Coun. Marty Carr thinks the matter over a downtown station is much ado about nothing because she thinks it’s highly unlikely that high-speed rail would ever reach the core, anyway.
Instead, she thinks the most likely location is on a vacant parcel of land at Tremblay Road and St. Laurent Blvd.
While in support of the location, she says it’s a concern for residents who live in the Eastway Gardens neighbourhood — sometimes known as the alphabet streets — where fear of being forced out of their homes isn’t new.
[Source: The Ottawa Lookout]
Map showing possible Alto train station site at Tremblay Rd./St. Laurent Blvd. intersection (Courtesy The Ottawa Lookout)
Some, like Alta Vista Councillor Marty Carr, view this vacant land as a prime location for the Alto high-speed rail (HSR) station due to its proximity to existing transit infrastructure, including the O-Train LRT Line 1 station at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre and the nearby Tremblay VIA Rail/O-Train station.
The 26-acre vacant site was originally planned for a massive federal office complex, but those plans were cancelled in 2023. The land remains under federal ownership by Public Services and Procurement Canada (read more on the "Residential Developments" page).
The 26-acre vacant site was originally planned for a massive federal office complex, but those plans were cancelled in 2023. The land remains under federal ownership by Public Services and Procurement Canada (read more on the "Residential Developments" page).
OTHER NEWS
Curbside waste collection calendar
View your curbside waste collection calendar on the City’s website. You may also download the Ottawa Collection Calendar app for Apple or Android devices. You can also view the “How to Use the Digital Waste Collection Calendar” instructional video on the City’s YouTube channel.
> Visit the website for your garbage and recycling collection calendar
> Visit the website for your garbage and recycling collection calendar
Eastway Gardens earmarked for new Canada Post community mailboxes
April, 2026 — Canada Post announced that about 30,000 addresses, mostly in east Ottawa, will lose door-to-door delivery. Postal codes beginning with K1B, K1G, K1H, K1J and K1K have been selected for conversion from door-to-door delivery to community mailboxes in late 2026 or early 2027.
> April 1, 2026 — (CBC Business News) Canada Post is planning to end home delivery. Here's how community mailboxes will work
> April 16, 2026 — (CBC News) 30,000 Ottawa addresses in line for new Canada Post community mailboxes
> April 1, 2026 — (CBC Business News) Canada Post is planning to end home delivery. Here's how community mailboxes will work
> April 16, 2026 — (CBC News) 30,000 Ottawa addresses in line for new Canada Post community mailboxes
The map below highlights the areas—including Eastway Gardens—that will have door-to-door delivery converted to community mailboxes.
[Source of information: Councillor Carr]
Conversion process
When converting addresses from home delivery to community mailboxes, Canada Post follows a structured process that includes municipal engagement, customer notification, site preparation, installation and service start-up.
1. Initial notification
Canada Post notifies municipalities and customers of the planned conversion from home delivery to community mailboxes. This early communication provides advance notice and outlines the upcoming steps in the process.
2. Community mailbox siting
Canada Post performs on-street assessments and related field activities to identify safe, accessible locations for community mailboxes. It then presents proposed sites to city planners and other municipal representatives for review and comment.
3. Adjacent customer notification
Residents who live adjacent to a proposed community mailbox location receive written notification. If they have questions or concerns, a member of Canada Post's Delivery Services team will follow up with them to discuss.
4. Site finalization
Community mailbox sites are finalized.
5. Location notification
Customers are notified by mail of the location of their new community mailbox.
6. Installation
Canada Post prepares for and installs the new community mailboxes.
[Source of information: Canada Post]
Canada Post notifies municipalities and customers of the planned conversion from home delivery to community mailboxes. This early communication provides advance notice and outlines the upcoming steps in the process.
2. Community mailbox siting
Canada Post performs on-street assessments and related field activities to identify safe, accessible locations for community mailboxes. It then presents proposed sites to city planners and other municipal representatives for review and comment.
3. Adjacent customer notification
Residents who live adjacent to a proposed community mailbox location receive written notification. If they have questions or concerns, a member of Canada Post's Delivery Services team will follow up with them to discuss.
4. Site finalization
Community mailbox sites are finalized.
5. Location notification
Customers are notified by mail of the location of their new community mailbox.
6. Installation
Canada Post prepares for and installs the new community mailboxes.
[Source of information: Canada Post]
City tree maintenance
• Overgrown trees that need pruning
• Dead or dying trees
• Signs of insect infestation
If you are unsure if a tree is on City or private property, you can request that the City attend to determine ownership of the tree.
You can also request new tree planting on City property.
After submitting a request, a Forestry Inspector will visit the site to assess the tree and contact you with next steps.
If a tree poses an immediate risk to people or property, please call 3‑1‑1.
[Source of information: Councillor Carr's weekly newsletter.]
Fun fact: Turkey on the loose in the Avenues
These birds are inundating the city's south end, especially near Prince of Wales Drive and the Rideau River.
But wait. Eastway Gardens is playing host to its own turkey. Thankfully, Avenue residents have spotted only one so far.
> Suggest a news story or subscribe to our newsletters: info.eastwaygardens@gmail.com
> Suggest a news story or subscribe to our newsletters: info.eastwaygardens@gmail.com
Eastway Gardens is a transit-oriented neighbourhood
> Suggest a news story or subscribe to our newsletters: info.eastwaygardens@gmail.com
Community Facebook Page
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Private Residents Only Eastway Gardens Facebook
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Banner Photo Credits:
• Via Rail train - Keira Clarke, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
• OC Transpo Train LRV - By *Youngjin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
• Via Rail train - Keira Clarke, CC BY 4.0
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• OC Transpo Train LRV - By *Youngjin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0