NCC lowering speed limit on Queen Elizabeth Driveway and section of Colonel By Drive

Motorists will be required to go slower while driving along two roads next to the Rideau Canal this fall.

Starting Monday, the speed limit on Queen Elizabeth Driveway and a section of Colonel By Drive, from Bronson Avenue to Daly Avenue, will be reduced from 60 km/h to 40 km/h.

"We're quite happy that this is 40. It should be 40 for sure," said Fred Greenwood.

New speed limit signs will be installed on the federal roadways to inform drivers of the lower speed limit.

The National Capital Commission says the overall goal of the reduced speed limits is to improve safety on the parkways.

"This new change will ensure a uniform speed limit along these corridors, and increase safety on the parkways," the National Capital Commission said in a statement. "It will also make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access the Rideau Canal and surrounding pathways."

The NCC says new active transportation crossings have been implemented on Colonel By Drive and Queen Elizabeth Driveway over the past decade, including the Corktown Footbridge and pedestrian crossings at Bank Street and Seneca Street.

"These recent crossings have included reductions in the posted speed limits (from 60 km/h to 40 km/h) for approaching vehicles," the NCC said in a statement. "The NCC parkway policy is currently under review and should be completed in 2024."

Residents are applauding the lower speed limit on the two roads.

"There are so many people that visit this area and they need to have a safe place to be and they can't when the speed is 60 kilometres per hour," Barb Greenwood said.

"It's not a normal street," said Joanne Baptiste. "You have people that are crossing to get on the other side, and that intersection at Dows Lake is really problematic. So maybe they took all of that into account."

The Ottawa Safety Council is applauding the NCC for reducing the speed limit, noting there is a high volume of pedestrians and cyclists in the area.

"There’s a reason behind that; it’s to allow everyone to move through the city safely," said executive director Jamie Kwong.

"Those minor changes in 10 kilometres, 20 kilometres, be it - that has a significant impact on whether or not someone, a pedestrian, a vulnerable road user, survives that accident."

The NCC says 36,400 people took part in active transportation on Queen Elizabeth Driveway in the month of August. Queen Elizabeth Driveway was closed daily to vehicles, between Somerset Street and Fifth Avenue, through the summer to provide more space for pedestrians, cycling and other active transportation.

Queen Elizabeth Driveway runs from Laurier Avenue to Preston Street.