Construction ramps up in preparation for 2017 celebrations, O-Train Confederation Line LRT

_ (press release) _ At today’s quarterly mobility and construction briefing, City staff outlined the major construction projects for the upcoming spring and summer months.

There are two main drivers for the 2016 construction season: finishing work on main routes in the city’s core before Canada’s 150

th

birthday celebrations bring legions of tourists to the Capital, and continuing to build the O-Train Confederation Line light rail transit (LRT) project as work continues for a 2018 service launch.

This summer, the remaining two sections of Transitway along the O-Train Confederation Line will close.

Beginning April 24, Nicholas Street northbound between Highway 417 and Laurier Avenue, will be converted to one general traffic lane and one bus-only lane. Buses and general traffic will share both southbound lanes on Nicholas Street, with a reserved bus lane beginning at the Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp. This change will be in effect at all times.

Motorists are advised to use alternative exits and entrances on Highway 417 and to give priority to transit vehicles and to respect the reserved bus lane signs and  markings. During this bus detour, traffic congestion on Nicholas Street will be much higher during morning and afternoon peak travel hours.

The pedestrian and cycling underpass at uOttawa will be closed from May 2 to August 22 to allow the safe demolition of the existing Campus Station and the start of construction of uOttawa LRT Station. The sidewalks that run adjacent to the Transitway will also be closed from Campus Station to Lees Station. Pedestrians will be detoured to King Edward Avenue and the Lees Avenue Bridge.

By the end of June, the Transitway from Tunney’s Pasture Station to Blair Station will be fully closed for O-Train Confederation Line construction. OC Transpo service will shift to run on regular roads, alongside or mixed with general traffic.

Major roadway projects that will continue this year include Greenbank Road widening, the Alta Vista hospital link and Main Street. New road projects include Queen Street streetscaping, the West Transitway extension from Bayshore to Moodie Drive and O’Connor Street cycle tracks.

Construction will result in traffic delays. However, the City has put measures in place to help minimize traffic impacts – including enhanced monitoring, strategic timing of construction projects, off-peak work where possible, increased rush-hour bus trips to and from the city’s east end, improved coordination with other partners, and advance notifications on the variable messaging signs.

Ottawa residents are commended for their continuing patience and adjustments over the past three years to help reduce traffic congestion. Again this spring and summer, residents are reminded to plan routes in advance, consider staggered work hours, try carpooling, use transit, and explore biking or walking (also combined with transit).

The City of Ottawa has tools on ottawa.ca to help motorists and transit users plan their routes and manage their commute, including:

 * 
[
 Travel Planner
](http://www.octranspo1.com/?from=splash)
at
[
 octranspo.com
](http://octranspo.com/)
– transit customers can plan their route

 * 
[
 City of Ottawa Traffic Report
](http://ottawa.ca/cgi-bin/trafficreport/report_search.pl?lang=en)
– outlining city-wide road closures, traffic restrictions and detours

 * 
[
 Interactive traffic map
](http://traffic.ottawa.ca/map/index?lang=en)
– showing construction areas and live traffic cams throughout the city

 * 
[
 Ottawa Nav
](http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/transportation-and-parking/traffic/ottawa-nav)
–

 * 
[
 Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) cameras
](http://traffic.ottawa.ca/map/intersections)

 * 
[
 Cycling maps
](http://ottawa.ca/en/roads_trans/cycling/index.html)
and information – detailing bicycle pathways and lanes throughout the city

For more information on City programs and services, including mobility and construction projects, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-9656 ).  You can also connect with us through Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .