Eastbound Parkdale on-ramp will be closed for nearly the entire summer
Motorists in Ottawa will soon need to brace for a significant road closure affecting the eastbound on-ramp at Parkdale for almost four months this summer.
Despite the inconvenience, some residents in the area are looking forward to the new construction.
“Rush hour used to be at a certain time. Now it's all the time,” said Jim McHugh, a long-time resident living next to the Parkdale on-ramp.
Significant road closures affecting the Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp and off-ramp at Parkdale Ave. in Ottawa, Ont. (CTV News Ottawa)
McHugh has lived next to the on-ramp for over two decades and has somewhat grown accustomed to the noise.
"We don't hear the traffic anymore after 25 years. The only thing we hear are the motorcycles. And they’re bad," he added.
However, in just under two weeks, all that noisy traffic will disappear as the Parkdale on-ramp is set to close for construction from April 28 to Aug. 25. McHugh says that these changes are long overdue.
"We’ve been waiting for these walls to be replaced because these walls aren't very effective for the sound. We want to have the sound barriers on the ramp also. That’s more important than up there for us," he explained.
Crews will be working on replacing retaining walls and noise barriers to enhance safety and infrastructure integrity.
Jason Fuerst, Administrative Coordinator of the Wellington West BIA, expressed concerns about the closure's impact on local businesses.
"It’s going to be a challenge for our businesses to get traffic," he said. “We are hopeful that it'll be a strong season for biking (and) scooters. And then there's also the LRT. That won't necessarily mitigate the challenges, but it will help to kind of alleviate some of it.”
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Ottawa Councillor Jeff Leiper acknowledged the mixed reactions among residents.
"I know for some residents, they're looking forward to it because it will probably make Parkdale a little quieter for a while," he said. "But I know for some other residents, they're not going to be able to get onto the eastbound Queensway until Metcalf. So, (there is) a little more inconvenience there. Just make sure you're planning for that when you are heading eastbound."
The closure also raises concerns for emergency services, with Ottawa Paramedics preparing for detours while ensuring quick emergency responses during the closure.
"Our unit (is) responding from the Civic hospital, we'll have to take a detour," said Marc-Antoine Deschamps of Ottawa Paramedics. "However, this is taken into consideration, and we have other paramedic posts in the area that could be more appropriate and able to respond, without causing any delays."
Meanwhile, the eastbound off-ramp is anticipated to be closed from April 29 to May 14.
Despite the temporary disruptions, McHugh just hopes that these changes will bring a little more peace and quiet to his yard.
"We just hope it goes nice and clean and easy,” said McHugh. “Got to live with it."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.