Road closures and service impacts in downtown Ottawa due to the 'Freedom Convoy' protest
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the road closures and service impacts in downtown Ottawa amid the ongoing "Freedom Convoy" protest in Ottawa.
ROAD CLOSURES
Multiple exits are closed along Hwy. 417 through the centre of Ottawa until further notice.
- The eastbound exits on the Queensway are closed at Rochester, Kent, Metcalfe and Nicholas.
- The westbound exits on Hwy. 417 are closed at Bronson, Metcalfe, Nicholas and Vanier Parkway.
OC TRANSPO
OC Transpo says transit services are restricted downtown due to the ongoing police activity.
The O-Train will not be running downtown until further notice due to the police operations.
OC Transpo says the O-Train will not serve the following stations: Lees, uOttawa, Rideau, Parliament and Lyon. The O-Train will operate from Tunney's Pasture Station to Pimisi Station in the west end, and from Blair Station to Hurdman Station in the east end.
Extended service to Gatineau for Routes 61, 63, 66 & 75 remain temporarily suspended until further notice. OC Transpo says to take Route 85 to Gatineau.
For information, visit octranspo.com.
RIDEAU CENTRE
CF Rideau Centre says it will remain closed until further notice due to the ongoing demonstration downtown.
"Cadillac Fairview has been advised that authorities cannot provide any assurances that it is safe to reopen or that the police service would be able to assist our security personnel in maintaining public order and safety within and around CF Rideau Centre," said Cadillac Fairview.
"As a result, CF Rideau Centre remains closed and conditions for reopening will be evaluated on a daily basis in collaboration with our community partners."
The popular mall in downtown Ottawa has been closed since Jan. 29.
CITY OF OTTAWA SERVICES
Ottawa City Hall and all its amenities remain closed for public access until further notice.
The Rink of Dreams and the underground parking lot at City Hall remain closed.
The city says the protest is not affecting garbage, green bin, or recycling pickup.
The resumption of appointments for in-person counter service at the City Hall Client Service Centre has been delayed until further notice. Service Ottawa and Building Code Services will contact appointment-holders directly.
COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the University of Ottawa Minto Sports Complex remains closed
OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Ottawa Public Library says the following branches remain closed.
- Ottawa Public Library Main Branch on Metcalfe Street
- Ottawa Public Library Rideau Branch on Rideau Street
The following branches near downtown Ottawa will remain open
MUSEUMS
The Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Museum of History and the National Gallery of Canada will all remain closed until further notice.
NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
The National Arts Centre will remain closed until further notice.
Programming planned on its stage in the coming days is postponed, and 1 Elgin Restaurant is closed.
"In light of the continued volatile situation caused by the occupation in downtown Ottawa, we have to extend the closure of the NAC for another week," said the NAC on Friday.
"This means our programming between now and Sunday, February 20, will be rescheduled. We continue to monitor the situation and its impact on our delayed reopening, in hope we can safely bring everyone back to our halls soon."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.