Project Spotlight: Iris Station

A major transformation is underway on Iris Street in College Ward. 

Rendering of Iris Station. 

Iris Station is a new O-Train Station being constructed as part of the O-Train West Extension. While it may appear to be one of the smaller stations on the O-Train West Extension, it has a unique story and complex design that will bring many benefits to the community.  

Situated along Iris Street between Algonquin College and Lincoln Fields, Iris Station is tucked between Pinecrest Creek on the west side and green space to the east. Before the station could be constructed, the surrounding landscape was entirely reshaped with the building of three bridges, a new creek culvert, temporary roadways, shifting the Transitway and the redirection of the Pinecrest Creek from the east side of the station to the west.  

Join us at The Next Stop Blog as we sit down with Mary-Ellen Gleeson, Construction Manager of the O-Train West Extension, to dive into the evolution of station construction over the past four years. Mary-Ellen, born and raised in Ottawa, shares her insights on one of her favorite stations in the extension, Iris Station. Mary-Ellen in front of Iris Station, August 2024. 

With her extensive experience and personal ties to the city, Mary-Ellen is enthusiastic about how the O-Train extension will connect more residents and communities. As she puts it, “being from Nepean, it means so much to be part of a project that is transforming the city and bringing the train closer to where people already live. It’ll make it easier for residents to get to rapid transportation by walking or biking. Iris Station showcases these features perfectly.” 

This transformation will not only result in the community gaining a new O-Train station but will also help reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff with a redesigned Pinecrest Creek, aided by the future Pinecrest Creek Stormwater Management Pond. Mary-Ellen highlights the added benefit of revitalized multi-use pathways, beautiful landscape features, with added trees and shrubs, and additional MUPs with benches that will run along the guideway, linking to areas such as Lincoln Fields and Algonquin College.  

Although Iris Station is a smaller station on the extension, the area underwent significant changes to achieve its current state. Mary-Ellen characterizes the construction process as a “complex transformation.”  

Learn more about the progress and changes that have taken place over the past four years by reading further below. 

2020 

Construction of Iris Station kicked off in the spring of 2020 with the clearing of land to establish the worksite for the future station. This was followed by construction of a bridge on the northwest side of Iris Street over the future path of Pinecrest Creek. A temporary road was also built to reroute Iris Street traffic to the north of the station site. 

Iris Station September 2020, a few months after site preparation began. Construction of the first bridge over the future path of Pinecrest Creek can be seen on the northwest side of the construction site.  

The temporary road to reroute Iris Street traffic to the north of the station site (October 2020). 

2021 

In 2021 construction focused on further redirection of traffic, building additional infrastructure to accommodate the station, and relocating Pinecrest Creek. In the spring of 2021, a temporary road was built along the west side of the Iris Station site to redirect bus traffic on the Transitway between Iris and Algonquin stations. Excavation of the new Pinecrest Creek bed began along with construction of a second bridge over the creek's future path to the south of the site. 

Pinecrest Creek was successfully redirected to flow along its new path in the fall of 2021. With the creek moved, and traffic redirected, work began on the Iris Street Bridge – the third and final bridge in the area.  

Pictured above is the temporary Transitway to the west of the station site, the second bridge over the redirected Pinecrest Creek to the south, and the new path of the creek on the west side of the worksite. The original path of the creek lies in the wooded area on the east side of the site (September 2021). 

2022  

Construction of the Iris Street Bridge continued in 2022 and the foundations of the new Iris Station buildings were poured in June of that year. A new multi-use pathway (MUP) for pedestrians and cyclists was also built along the west side of Pinecrest Creek to connect Iris Street with Baseline Road. 

The Iris Street Bridge under construction (June 2022). 

The foundations of the future Iris Station (June 2022). 

2023 

The Iris Street Bridge was completed in 2023 which marked a major milestone for the project. With the bridge complete, Iris Street was fully re-opened to traffic in its final configuration in September of that year. Progress on the station continued and residents could see the station taking shape.  

Iris Street is re-opened to traffic. Work continues on Iris Station (September 2023). 

2024 

Iris Station is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. When the O-Train extension launches, Iris Station will be an accessible station for residents, connecting them to more communities in the west, east, and south of the city. Once landscaping is established, residents will be able to enjoy a new green space, along with enhanced connectivity for transit users as well asand pedestrians and cyclists travelling on the well-used MUPs in the area.  

Iris Station construction (July 2024). 

Stay informed of O-Train Extension Progress 
 

There are many exciting milestones on the horizon as we extend the benefits of the O-Train system farther south, east, and west. 

To stay up to date on O-Train Extension progress, sign up for the project newsletter, follow OC Transpo on Instagram, or visit the project website.