Construction underway for West Transitway Extension

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa ** – Construction is underway for a vital transit link for west-end residents, the West Transitway Extension. The project was celebrated today by Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of the City’s Transportation Committee, Councillor Stephen Blais, Chair of Transit Committee, west end Councillors and the Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure for Ontario and MPP for Ottawa-West Nepean. ** ** Preliminary work for the West Transitway Extension began in spring 2015 with the Stillwater Culvert Extension along Corkstown Road. The project will extend the Transitway from Bayshore Station to Moodie Drive where a new transit station will be built. Both will be in use by the end of 2017. ** ** “The new portion of the Transitway will separate buses from regular traffic and provide more reliable service between downtown and communities in the west,” said Mayor Watson. “The West Transitway Extension is also an integral part of the Stage 2 LRT project that will extend the Confederation Line from Tunney’s Pasture to Bayshore Shopping Centre by 2023.”

As part of the project, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure will be built along Corkstown Road, and a segment of noise barriers will be built along the north side of Highway 417.

“Building infrastructure is about improving the quality of life for people in Ontario, and that’s why we’re investing in new hospitals, new schools, noise barriers, new roads and trains and water treatment plants,” said Minister Chiarelli. “The West Transitway Extension is a perfect example of the social benefits of infrastructure – it will get people to work and back home to their families faster, it will take cars off the roads, and it will provide new bike and pedestrian routes to encourage physical activity.”

The cost for the project, including design and construction is $47.7 million. For information about changes to transit service during construction, visit octranspo.com .

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