On Wednesday, May 22 construction to “Fix the Split” will begin!

The East End is finally beginning to get its fair share in infrastructure investments!

Lane reductions will begin on the 174, reducing westbound traffic by one lane west of the 174 Blair Road on-ramp to the split. The lane reductions will be in place until late August.

While inconvenient, the work to “fix the split” will help alleviate congestion and reduce commute times for Orléans and Cumberland residents.

Starting mid-June, the eastbound Highway 417 Lees on-ramp will be closed to traffic until 2015. The eastbound Nicholas on-ramp will remain open as an alternative for motorists.

Beginning August 9, a permanent barrier will restrict Highway 417 westbound motorists from exiting at the St.Laurent off-ramp. However, the St. Laurent off-ramp will remain open to 174 traffic (with the exception of a two-week ramp closure in mid-August 2013).

Variable Message Signs are in place along the construction zone and will provide timely updates to commuters. Motorists are also asked to use extra caution and to obey signs while travelling through the construction zone.

All three lanes in both directions on Highway 417 will remain open, but speed limits will be reduced in the construction zones.

More OC Transpo Routes

To ease disruption for commuters and motorists, OC Transpo has increased bus service from the Trim Park & Ride Transitway station to downtown.

There will be 11 additional transit trips added from Trim to downtown during the morning peak periods.

There will be 12 additional transit trips added to the afternoon peak periods from downtown to Trim.

The City of Ottawa encourages commuters to be flexible with commute times, stagger work hours or use other alternative means for travel. The public can choose to walk, cycle or carpool within the city. The City of Ottawa has tools on ottawa.ca to help motorists and transit users plan their routes and manage their commute including:

• Travel Planner at octranspo.com – transit users can chart and plan routes
• City of Ottawa Traffic Report – outlining citywide road closures, traffic restrictions and detours
• Interactive traffic map – showing construction areas and live traffic cams throughout the city
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) cameras along Highway 417
• Cycling maps and information – detailing bicycle pathways and lanes throughout the city