Additional information

After careful assessment, it was determined that there are trees within the project limits that need to be removed for health reasons or due to construction conflicts. Trees within the project limits were inspected by a professional arborist from the project team to determine their health condition, review conflicts with construction, and develop a tree protection plan. A total of 257 trees were assessed within the project limits. Anticipated tree removals are listed below and are subject to change, noting some trees have been identified for removal for health reasons while others are due to construction conflicts. More information will be available at the public update meeting. Tree size has been grouped into two categories: small trees with a diameter less than 12 inches / 30 cm and large trees with a diameter greater than 12 inches / 30 cm.

Charles Street 

• Removal is required for a total of 8 small trees and 4 large trees on Charles Street at the following municipal numbers (MN): 63 (3 trees), 89 (6 trees), north-west corner of Riverside Drive and Mount Pleasant Avenue intersection (1 tree), and 173 Mount Pleasant Avenue (2 trees, side boulevard),

West Lions Park 

• Removal is required for a total of 46 small trees and 1 large tree within West Lions Park.
• Note, most of the tree removals within the park are related to the stormwater channel remediation work.   

Paul Street

• Removal is required for a total of 1 small tree and 5 large trees on Paul Street at the following municipal numbers (MN): 159, 178 (park pathway entrance, 2 trees), 182 (vacant land), 184, 186 (vacant land).

Each year, the City of London plants approximately 5,000 trees to help mitigate the efforts of climate change, provide shade and lower temperatures reducing energy costs at homes. Trees also help absorb heavy rainfall and reduce stormwater flows. 

The City will be replacing the watermain under your street and will also be replacing the public portion of the existing individual water services from the watermain up to the property line as part of this project, at no cost to you. The water service is the pipe that brings water into your home. The public portion of the water service runs from the public watermain to the property line in front of your home, and the private portion runs from the property line to the water meter inside your home. 

Some of the properties on your street may have water services made of galvanized iron, which can corrode over time and restrict water flow. Other properties may have water services made of lead. For information on the health risks associated with lead, please visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit (healthunit.com/environment-lead) website. If you want to know whether you have a lead water service pipe, please contact 519-661-4739 or leadtesting@london.ca. If you have a lead water service pipe, the portion of water service from the property line to your house is your responsibility. A licensed plumbing contractor is required to complete lead pipe replacement. 

If you choose to hire a contractor to replace the private portion of the lead water service on your property, you may be eligible to have your payments spread out over 10 years under the City's Lead Service Replacement Loan Program. Please contact 519-661-CITY (2489) Ext. 7503, or skoshows@london.ca for additional program details.

Electrical grounding

Water service pipes were often used to ground electrical systems, but connections can deteriorate over time and pose a serious safety risk. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure the grounding system is adequate. This may be a good time for you to hire an electrician, at your cost, to check the condition of your building’s electrical ground. 

Sanitary private drain connections (PDC)

The sanitary private drain connection (PDC) is the pipe that carries sanitary flow from your property to the City of London’s sanitary sewer system. Through this project, all existing sanitary PDCs will be renewed from the sanitary sewer main to a point approximately two meters behind the road curb. This existing sanitary PDC renewal is at no cost to you.

Storm private drain connections (PDC)

The storm private drain connection (PDC) is the pipe that carries water discharged from the sump pump or drain on your property to the City’s storm sewer system. Through this project, all existing storm PDCs will be renewed from the storm sewer main to a point approximately two meters behind the road curb. This existing storm PDC renewal is at no cost to you.

Basement flooding

The City of London’s Basement Flooding Grant Program (london.ca/BFGP) is designed to provide financial assistance to property owners to disconnect their weeping tiles from the City’s sewer systems and to install a sump pit, sump pump and backwater valve. By doing this, you may decrease risk of basement flooding on your property.

The City has evaluated how pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and transit users will be impacted by the construction of this project. We have determined that the project will consist of a full road closure of Charles Street (north south leg) (local traffic only), full closure of the Paul Street and Lorraine Avenue intersection (local traffic only) and intermittent sidewalk closures. Intermittent closure of access to the park pathway through West Lions Park (from Paul Street and from Charles Street) will also be experienced during construction. Access to local businesses, and residences will be maintained. A Construction Notice will be issued two weeks before construction starts with additional information and phasing updates.

Access to the St Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church and the London Christian Academy parking lots may be intermittently impacted during construction. Accommodations will be made where possible to facilitate access.