Westbound O’Connor on-ramp to Hwy. 417 closed for the summer as part of highway construction

Another downtown Highway 417 on-ramp is closed for the summer, leading to more traffic delays in Ottawa. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau reports.

The O’Connor Street on-ramp to the westbound lanes of Highway 417 is now closed for the next two months due to construction on the major highway through Ottawa.

Construction began in May to reconstruct the median and “undertake operational improvements” to the Queensway from the O-Train bridges to Kent Street.

Starting July 2, the O’Connor Street on-ramp to the Queensway is closed until Aug. 29, with a detour in effect.

The eastbound lanes of Hwy. 417 will now be reduced to two through lanes between Bronson Avenue and Kent Street. Officials say the outside lane beyond Bronson Avenue must exit at Kent Street.

According to Kiewit Dufferin Midtown Partnership, three eastbound lanes will be maintained from Island Park Drive to Bronson Avenue and three westbound lanes will be maintained between Kent Street and Island Park Drive.

“Additional periodic lane closures will occur during off-peak daytime hours and overnight throughout the construction zone,” officials said.

Lane closures, median closures and traffic control staging will be in place in the eastbound and westbound lanes until Oct. 30 for construction.

“To facilitate the access to Highway 417 median construction including but not limited to removals of existing infrastructure, installation of new drainage, overhead signs, electrical infrastructure, and median barrier wall,” the company said in a statement.

Other construction work underway on Highway 417 includes improvements to the noise barrier and retaining wall replacements from Island Park Drive to Kent Street.

The westbound on-ramp at Parkdale Avenue and the westbound off-ramp at Island Park Drive along Highway 417 are also closed until October for construction related to concrete curbs, retaining walls, drainage, noise barriers and landscaping work.