Hwy. 417 reopens for Monday morning commute after Bronson Avenue bridge replaced
Highway 417 reopened to traffic through central Ottawa in time for the Monday morning commute, after construction crews spent the weekend replacing the Bronson Avenue bridge.
Traffic started flowing along the Queensway between Metcalfe Street and Carling Avenue just before 4:30 a.m., 80 hours after the highway was closed for construction.
Bronson Avenue remains closed between Catherine Street and Chamberlain until July 27.
Using rapid-replacement technology, crews removed the old structure on Friday and moved the pre-built new bridge into place. The highway was closed starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Construction crews had to deal with heavy rain overnight Sunday, with more than 33 mm of rain falling on Ottawa, but that didn't prevent crews from completing the project ahead of the Monday 6 a.m. goal.
Highway 417 reopened between Carling Avenue and Metcalfe Street on Monday morning, after the busy highway was closed all weekend for the replacement of the Bronson Avenue bridge. (Ministry of Transportation cameras/website)
The closure of the Queensway caused some traffic delays across the city of Ottawa this weekend, particularly along the detour routes of Catherine Street and Carling Avenue. Several events this weekend, including RBC Ottawa Bluesfest and football and rugby at TD Place, added to the traffic volumes moving into the downtown core through the weekend.
"It's added about an hour to my commute; I'm just trying to get to Gatineau," driver Raymond Ervin said.
"The traffic was pretty crazy this weekend with the highway being closed down and everyone coming in for Bluesfest. It's been pretty chaotic," Colton Adsett said. "With that being said, I don't think I've ever seen a bridge being replaced that fast."
The replacement of the Bronson Avenue overpass is the latest construction project to replace aging infrastructure along Highway 417.
The Percy Street bridge is the next bridge scheduled for replacement. The highway will be closed for August 10 to 14 for the replacement of the bridge.
The Preston Street bridge along the Queensway is scheduled to be replaced in 2024.
Last summer, construction crews replaced the Booth Street bridge and the Rochester Street bridge.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Natalie van Rooy
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Halifax police say Walmart employee's death isn't suspicious; no details released
Police in Halifax say the death of a Walmart employee who was found inside an oven in the store last month is not suspicious, but they are refusing to release any additional details.
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy as financial losses pile up and debt payments loom
Spirit Airlines said Monday that it has filed for bankruptcy protection and will attempt to reboot as it struggles to recover from the pandemic-caused swoon in travel and a failed attempt to sell the airline to JetBlue.
WATCH Live at 12:30 p.m. EST: Prince Harry meeting with children in Vancouver
Prince Harry will meet with children in Vancouver as part of his work with the Invictus Games to bring the event to schools everywhere.
Trudeau says he could have acted faster on immigration changes, blames 'bad actors'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government could have acted faster on reining in immigration programs, after blaming 'bad actors' for gaming the system.
9 injured, including 2 critically, after stolen vehicle collides with TTC bus in Toronto: police
Nine people were injured, including two critically, after a stolen vehicle collided with a TTC bus in North York early Monday morning, Toronto police say.
Moscow warns U.S. over allowing Ukraine to hit Russian soil with longer-range weapons
The Kremlin warned Monday that President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles adds 'fuel to the fire' of the war and would escalate international tensions even higher.
Ottawa family heartbroken after being scammed out of more than $22K on fake Taylor Swift tickets
A few weeks ago, they learned the tickets they booked last August were never real.
Father, 2 children missing from northern B.C may be travelling to Alberta: RCMP
Mounties in B.C. are asking the public for help locating a father and his two children who have not been seen since Friday.
Trial begins for men accused in migrants' deaths near Manitoba border crossing
A trial is to begin today for two men accused of smuggling migrants across the Canada-U. S. border.