The City of Ottawa is pledging to get Stage 2 LRT work on Highway 417 done three weeks ahead of schedule, as residents grapple with congestion and traffic delays in the west end. Commuters and councillors have been raising concerns about delays on Highway 417 between Woodroffe Avenue and Pinecrest Road this spring due to construction. One lane in each direction is closed on Highway 417 around Pinecrest to install signage infrastructure as part of the Stage 2 of the O-Train western extension. In a memo sent Monday afternoon, Transit Services director of rail construction Richard Holder said staff recognize the inconvenience residents have experienced as a result of the work. “I would like to acknowledge and apologize for the short notice that was provided on the implementation of these changes. The 417 is an important link across our city, and the Rail Construction Program (RCP) takes seriously any activities that effect motorists and commute times on the highway,” Holder wrote. He said in an effort to get traffic moving, the contractors’ hours will be extended, following a review involving city staff and third-party experts. “The contractor will now work extended hours, including evenings and weekends. There may be some short periods where there will be little to no work on site to allow for specific activities, like concrete curing,” Holder said. ”Through this review, we have expedited the work to advance the completion and restoration of all traffic lanes from the original date of July 28 to July 6, three weeks ahead of schedule." Over the weekend, the city announced the bus only westbound on-ramp from Woodroffe Avenue to Hwy. 417 has been modified to provide motorists with a dedicated highway access lane to “help improve traffic flow” on the on-ramp and provide “additional capacity for highway traffic.” Coun. Laine Johnson called the opening of the Woodroffe bus-only on-ramp the “first solution.” “This should reduce the pinch point that we’re seeing around Pinecrest. Obviously, not eliminate it, but it’s a great first step,” Johnson said. “It’s not the only solution, but it is going to provide some immediate relief.” Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh also says her constituents are frustrated. “They’re very frustrated but mostly I’m hearing from the residents whose neighbourhoods are getting cut through,” she said. “They’re seeing traffic going through their communities and, it’s been very problematic.” On Friday, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said on social media that he’s directed city staff to work with the Ministry of Transportation to accelerate the work and restore all lanes to traffic. “The congestion on Highway 417 resulting from lane closures in the west end is unacceptable and extremely disruptive to drivers and also to residents in neighbouring areas,” Sutcliffe said. “This must be resolved as quickly as possible.”
