LRT disruption at St-Laurent station to continue into workweek

UPDATE | A city memo Tuesday afternoon said light rail trains would be replaced by R1 buses between Hurdman and Blair stations from 10 p.m. Tuesday until the end of that night's service for repair work at St-Laurent station. It said to expect an update early Wednesday morning.

Ottawa's light rail trains will continue to skip St-Laurent station on Tuesday, as engineers complete repairs on delaminated ceiling tiles above the platform.

A memo to council sent Monday afternoon said trains will continue to run through the station, but will not stop.

The station has been closed to commuters since Friday morning after routine inspection found "a few of the suspended ceiling tiles above the platform were disrupted," according to Richard Holder, director of engineering services at OC Transpo.

Bus shuttles continue to run between St-Laurent and Cyrville stations. 

The station may reopen Wednesday, but its reopening is dependant on the removal of the affected tiles, completion of work, and an inspection to ensure there is no remaining safety hazard.

More work may be required after the inspection, said Renée Amilcar, the city's general manager of transit services, and Tammy Rose, the city's general manager of infrastructure and water services, in the memo sent Monday afternoon.

Work is still underway, according to the memo, and expected to continue into the night after trains stop running, so engineers have safe access to electrified areas. 

This is not the first time damage to the concrete has been found at the station. A freedom of information request obtained by CBC earlier this year showed inspectors found "severe" and in some cases, "very severe" damage to the concrete tiles in 2020.

CBC reported the city did not patch up some problem areas for years after the issues were observed in 2020.

Some concrete did fall onto the tracks of St-Laurent station in January, halting service. City officials said no concrete has fallen in this latest incident.

The cause of the damage, and whether it is connected to previous corrosion, has yet to be confirmed. 

Barrhaven East Coun. Wilson Lo said he and other city councillors will be inquiring as to the cause. He added he will be asking whether the bus loop above the station has anything to do with the water damage.

OC Transpo said it will provide updates through its social media and website.