Construction begins this week on Albert, Slater and Bronson in Ottawa

Construction season begins to ramp up in Ottawa this week, with a major project getting underway on several downtown streets.

The $43.7 million reconstruction of Albert Street, Queen Street, Slater Street and Bronson Avenue gets underway on Monday.

During this construction season, crews will be focusing on replacing the underground infrastructure and road construction on Albert and Slater Streets, between Bronson Avenue and Bay Street, and on Bronson between Albert and Slater.

"The project will replace portions of the existing sewers, roads and watermains," the city says on its website. "It will also reconstruct the street right-of-way, following the Complete Streets framework in which physical elements will be incorporated into the design where feasible to offer safety, comfort and mobility for all road users."

Some business owners, like Caroline Cote of Occo Kitchen on Bay Street, say the construction is just another issue to deal with, after a difficult two years for the hospitality industry.

“I definitely think it’s going to impact Occo; we’re just gearing up for our patio season, we have quite a large patio right on the corner of Albert and Bay, and the construction is taking place right out in front,” she says.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s been a rough two and a half years. It’s just one thing after another. COVID obviously has been disastrous for the hospitality industry, especially downtown — we had the bike lane construction going on Bay Street last summer, which impacted the patio, and now we have this on Albert Street taking place.”

The following streets will have ongoing lane closures or reductions until November.

• Albert Street, between Bay Street and Bronson Avenue, will be reduced to one multi-purpose lane
• Slater Street, between Bronson Avenue and Bay Street, will be reduced to one multi-purpose lane
• Bronson Avenue, between Laurier Avenue and Albert Street, will be reduced to one northbound multi-purpose lane
• Commissioner Street, between Albert and Slater streets, will be reduced to one southbound lane. The cycle track will remain open.

Pedestrian and cycling access will be maintained during construction.

A look at the project limits for the reconstruction of Albert, Queen, Slater and Bronson in Ottawa. (Photo courtesy: City of Ottawa)

--With files from CTV News Ottawa's Peter Szperling.