Preparing for the gateway pillars

The Arch will be located on Somerset between Bronson and Cambridge. One leg will be by the City parking lot (former Grad's tavern before it burned down) and the other in front of Sushi 88 - Brown Raw Sugar restuarant.

The sidewalks have already been removed in preparation for construction.

A large saw cut in the curb side lane on each side of Somerset marks where the pavement is to be removed. A "bulb out" will be constructed, permanently  narrowing Somerset to two traffic lanes. The bulb out is where the supporting pillars of the Arch will be built, the lions on pedestals installed, and four decorative new style lamps. The pillars are expected to be in place by May 15th.

Site Preparation: electric lines

Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson.

The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring ... not cheap!... is being borne by the Chinatown BIA.