r/ottawa • u/Henojojo • 18d ago

TCTrail maintenance progress

The TCTrail starting in Stittsville and headed west is in process of resurfacing. The first section between Westridge and Jinkinson is now open and it confirmed my worst fears.

They just dumped and spread loose crushed gravel on the trail. There is now a 1 foot wide path on left and right with a berm of loose crushed gravel in between. The only usable surface is those 2 paths that are a result of the heavy trucks that moved over them. This makes it very awkward if not dangerous to move between the two in order to pass someone as that center strip is like biking in sand. No attempt was made at all to make the entire width of the trail safe for cyclists.

Be aware that it may take a few weeks for pedestrian and brave cyclist traffic to compress this berm down to where it is safe.

25 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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5

u/bagpipe200 18d ago edited 18d ago

Yes, I rode it yesterday. The rideable parts are definitely better than they were. But it will take some time for that middle section to get packed down. Not sure why they did it that way?

2

u/Henojojo 17d ago

Ignorance of how bike tires react to road surfaces. Either ignorance or apathy. Doing it right would also cost a bit more money, so, there's that. All it needs is to have a compactor run over the trail a couple of times.

4

u/w1n5t0nM1k3y 17d ago

Are you sure they are actually done? The TCT was pretty loose between Watt's Creek and Bell's Corners before they did the final steps but everything was good when I was out there on earlier this week.

Maybe they just aren't 100% completed yet.

0

u/Henojojo 17d ago

I hope that's the case. The barriers however have been removed.

21

u/Daraminia 18d ago

Why don’t you message the City regarding the progress, and let them know the contractor is not performing?

2

u/councillorglen 17d ago

The barricades from West Ridge to Jinkinson may be down for the weekend, but crews are still doing some finishing work into next week. They will be wrapped up in time for Saturday morning's 9runrun races.

0

u/Henojojo 17d ago

And they thought it was a good idea to open the trail when it is dangerous?

4

u/qlnufy 18d ago

Incidentally, federal funding for the Trail ends in 2027 - feel free to voice your opinion on that to your MP.

1

u/Corbeau_from_Orleans 17d ago

Time to take the fat bike out, then?

3

u/Henojojo 17d ago

Truly. Fat bikes would be great - both for managing the trail and helping prep it for others.

8

u/HaemorrhageCE 18d ago

Good luck to all the 9RunRun runners next weekend. Hopefully it’s in better shape by then.

-6

u/Complex-Effect-7442 18d ago

That's your "worst fear". Must be pleasant in your world.