TRANSPORTATION > Roads & Highways
Helen Avenue Urbanization
Client: Region of Markham
Location: Region of Markham
Construction Value: $550,000
Services: Preliminary Design, Detailed Design, Contract Administration, Site Inspection
Key Feature
- 210 m of existing 2 lane rural road complete with roadside open ditches and culvert outlets
- Roadside features include large mature trees, overheard hydro, telecommunication wires/cables, and illumination on the north side only
- Reconstructed to a 2 lane urban cross-section complete with 450 mm diameter storm sewers
The purpose of this project was to reconstruct a short section of Helen Avenue and to urbanize it complete with a sidewalk on one side to provide a proper link between newly developed subdivisions to the east and Kennedy Road.
Due to the extremely flat grades special alteration had to be paid to overall drainage as well as major storm flood routing to an existing of the Rouge River.
Along one side of the road were the original large lots on septic systems. Although these lots are being redeveloped into lots with 10-12 m frontage, the proposed design was set up to ensure minimum impact on the boulevard as well as the lots to avoid impacting on mature trees and the septic systems.
The flat grades in both boulevards and on the adjacent properties required placement of catchbasin in the boulevards at regular intervals.
The CFA Team included experienced and award winning urban planners, engineers, and designers who, although understanding of the need to accommodate vehicular traffic, also were equally understanding and respectful of the importance of the street as a place that requires a sense of vibrancy and connectivity with the surrounding neighborhood. In keeping with the strategic principles in the Markham Transportation Planning Study – 2002, the CFA Team implemented these new urban design guidelines in the design with a focus on improving efficiency of the existing roads, and enhancing the quality of life for Markham residents.
The urbanization provided curb and gutter, and the continuation of sidewalk on the north side of Helen Avenue, within the road allowance, from Kennedy Road westerly. In addition, decorative fixtures were provided within the limits of work to harmonize with those already existing on Helen Avenue to the east.
Full Services were provided comprising preliminary and detailed design as well as contract administration and site inspection. The scope included geometric design of roadway, drainage comprising the review of the major and minor systems, grading, illumination, geotechnical design, approvals and construction staging plan.
Also included in this project was upgrading of the street lighting to LED using new decorative luminaries making the existing lights in the subdivision but installed on the exiting hydro poles which would remain in this section of Helen Avenue.
In addition, new trees were planted along both sides of the road to support the existing street-scaping.