It will be a weekend of traffic chaos in the capital as a section of the 417 at Preston Street has been removed to allow for the installation of the new Preston Street Bridge.
The new replacement bridge was constructed in a staging area on the former field of the Adult High School and will be moved into place once the old bridge is demolished and the debris cleared away.
The eastbound Queensway is closed between Carling Avenue and Metcalfe Street, while the westbound lanes are shut between Bronson and Parkdale Avenues.
The Ministry of Transportation announced the closure of the following access ramps:
• Maitland Eastbound
• Carling Eastbound
• Parkdale Eastbound
• O’Connor Westbound
• Lyon Westbound
• Bronson Westbound
• Rochester Westbound
ABOVE: Highway 417 detour maps courtesy of the City of Ottawa.
Adding to the cross-town travel disruption, Line 1 of the LRT is closed between Tunney’s Pasture and Rideau stations until July 29. In its place, R1 buses will run between Tunney’s Pasture and Hurdman stations.
Ottawa folks dodging the traffic drama can kick back and enjoy watching the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics or get a front-row seat to the bridge replacement action, streamed live by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s webcam. No need to brave the roads when you can watch from the comfort of your couch!
Header image: Anne Dion