Another major north-south Ottawa road is re-opening after a lengthy summer construction project.
A day after Woodroffe Road was re-opened following a sewer reconstruction that started in June, the City of Ottawa announced a stretch of Bronson Avenue will open at 12 a.m. Tuesday.
The city said in a news release this section between Gladstone Avenue and Catherine Street was scheduled to open in mid-December.
Traffic can now flow through one lane in each direction, with buses restored in time for the “morning peak period” according to the release.
Some businesses said they will keep struggling even when the road is fully restored.
"It will be bumper to bumper . . . (it's) probably going to be worse having two lanes open on Bronson that what we currently have ," said Sheldon Macleod, owner of Speedy Auto Service.
"There's been very little signage, customers fighting their way into the shop, it's been very difficult for everyone."
Others said they had more hope.
"Well I'm happy naturally, because if we've survived with the problems we had then I'd say our business will probably go higher," said Ronald Potter, owner of Modern Dry Cleaners.
"We're planning to give (the construction company) a crystal award to thank them for their help and just for being so professional," said Matthew Pelchat, owner of Globe Awards and Promotions.
The $30 million project, which began in late March, is the first phase of a two year, $30 million undertaking to replace water and sewer pipes that in some cases date back to the 1880s.
Bronson Avenue remains closed to traffic from Gladstone Avenue to Somerset Street, meaning owners on that stretch will have to keep waiting.
"It can't get much worse, anything should be better," said Gus Ambara, owner of Centretown Donair and Pizza. "It's been disaster really, the whole year is gone."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Claudia Cautillo
