Highway lane closures expected this fall because of LRT construction

Moodie Station on the new west extension of Ottawa's LRT system is flanked by several roadways, including Highway 417, left. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

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Commuters can expect more traffic headaches this fall with several highway lane closures planned as construction work continues on the LRT extension to Ottawa’s east and west ends.

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Line 1 will also be extended to the west as far as Moodie Station, with a spur also running south from Lincoln Fields to Algonquin College as part of Stage 2.

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OC Transpo staff have outlined some of the major traffic impacts that are expected as work continues around the new LRT stations.

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Traffic impacts in the east end are expected to be limited to lane closures on Highway 174 for short durations during off-peak hours, according to Richard Holder, director of the rail construction program.

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The lane closures will accommodate “finishing activities” such as pavement markings, landscaping, shoulder work and drainage improvements, he said.

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The most significant impact will be a closure of the eastbound on-ramp at Place d’Orléans for three to four weeks to complete water main work.

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The final repaving of Highway 174 between Blair Road and Place d’Orléans is scheduled for 2027.

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Staff said they would update councillors on the exact dates of each closure.

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In the west end, construction work is expected to continue around Pinecrest Station until November, with lane reductions on Pinecrest Road between Highway 417 and Queensview Drive.

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There will be nightly closures on the 417 off-ramps for paving and line painting this fall.

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A full closure of the westbound and eastbound Highway 417 is planned for a short duration in November, officials said, to allow for installation of overhead signage.

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There will be more lane closures on Holly Acres Drive between the highway and Richmond Road in late September into October, with lane reductions and a full closure of the highway on-ramps in one direction at a time.

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There will also be lane reductions on Moodie Drive and nightly closures of the highway on-ramps.

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“Overall, the road work has been planned to minimize impacts on transit operations wherever possible. However, several major lane reductions and intermittent closures will be required throughout the construction period,” Holder told the transit committee on Sept. 10.

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OC Transpo is expected to issue a memo with the dates and full scope of the closures and lane reductions.

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The contractor, East-West Connectors, is “currently undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the damage,” a staff report said.