A look at road closures, O-Train shutdown planned in Ottawa this weekend
Commuters will need to plan their route ahead of time this weekend while attempting to travel around Ottawa, as road closures, construction and the shutdown of light-rail transit will create significant traffic challenges.
A section of the Queensway is closed between Metcalfe and Carling/Kirkwood avenues for construction, the O-Train will be out of service after 8 p.m. all weekend and several roads are closed for construction or active transportation use.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at road closures and service disruptions around Ottawa this weekend.
QUEENSWAY
A five-kilometre section of the Queensway is closed this weekend while crews replace the Booth Street Bridge.
Hwy. 417 is closed between Metcalfe and the Carling/Kirkwood avenues, with traffic being diverted onto Catherine Street, Bronson Avenue, Carling Avenue and Chamberlain/Isabella.
Here is a look at the detours for motorists travelling eastbound and westbound this weekend.
Westbound
- Motorists travelling westbound will exit at the Metcalfe off-ramp
- Travel westbound on Catherine Street
- Turn left on Bronson Avenue and travel southbound
- Turn right on Carling Avenue and travel westbound
- Take Highway 417 westbound on-ramp from Carling Avenue
Eastbound
- Eastbound motorists must exit the highway at Carling/Kirkwood Avenue
- Drive eastbound on Carling Avenue
- Turn left on Bronson Avenue
- Travel northbound to Chamberlain Avenue and turn right
- Continue onto Isabella Street
- Take Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp at Metcalfe Street
O-TRAIN
The O-Train will be out of service after 8 p.m. all weekend for maintenance work.
OC Transpo says the full line will be closed starting at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
R1 replacement bus service will run the full line, matching regular train frequency.
In a memo to council on Friday, OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar said Red Vest staff will be present across the system and stationed at key areas to assist customers during the O-Train shutdown.
Amilcar says an alternative R1 routing plan has been created should there be significant delays due to the Hwy. 417 closure between Carling and Metcalfe.
More information is available at octranspo.com.
SLATER STREET
Slater Street is closed this weekend from Bronson Avenue to Bay Street as part of the Albert/Queen/Slater/Bronson reconstruction project.
Slater Street will be closed from 9 a.m. on Friday until 10 p.m. on Sunday.
The city says motorists, cyclists and OC Transpo buses will be detoured via Laurier Avenue and Bay Street.
QUEEN ELIZABETH DRIVEWAY
Queen Elizabeth Driveway is closed to vehicles all weekend between Somerset Street and Fifth Avenue.
The road on the west side of the Rideau Canal is open for active use only.
SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD PARKWAY
The westbound lanes of the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway will be closed to vehicles on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the NCC's Weekend Bikedays.
The SJAM will be closed from Vimy Place to Carling Avenue.
SIR GEORGE-ETIENNE CARTIER PARKWAY
Both lanes of the Sir George-Etienne Cartier Parkway are closed to vehicles between the Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard.
The road is closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
CHAUDIERE CROSSING
The Chaudiere Crossing connecting Ottawa and Gatineau is closed from 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday at 6 p.m.
The bridge will be temporarily open to Gatineau-bound traffic for four hours on Saturday (7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
No vehicular traffic will be permitted on the bridge.
WELLINGTON STREET
Wellington Street remains closed to vehicle traffic between Elgin Street and Bank Street.
Motorists can use Queen Street to move through the area.
OTHER TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS
- Westbound Hwy. 174 off-ramps to northbound and southbound Montreal Road will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.
- The northbound Montreal Road on-ramp to westbound Highway 174 is expected to be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday
- Montreal Road will be closed under the overpass of Hwy. 174 from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in "all public spaces," marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.