Highway 417 Widening

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

This is a clusterf*ck. And then we wonder why there are so many accidents and traffic jams.

It makes sense to me. Allowing vehicles to change 3 lanes in less than 100m is not safe, so preventing them from doing so is a good idea.

So many closures and detours.

Name a major construction project that doesn't have closures and detours.

Never understood why Carling had this weird loop design under the 417. I wish they would've rebuilt it in straight line.

The 417 follows an old rail line. The problem is now that the tracks have been converted to a highway, we have 3 thoroughfares intersecting at exactly the same point. Building an interchange that allows cars to safely and easily go to/from any thoroughfare to any other thoroughfare in either direction (or continue on in the same direction on the same thoroughfare) is not trivial.

[Tesladom]

Maybe this would be messy but its an idea

Reduce WB lanes on Carling from 3 to 2 under 417(why 3??)
Have a flyover at the exit for SB Kirkwood, fork traffic at exit for Carling and Kirkwood NB on right and Kirkwood SB on left. There would be 2 turning lanes SB on Kirkwood - 1 from Carling 1 from 417

Also wasn't Island Park exit supposed to be reconfigured through that dog park area at one time? Those 2 exits are too close together IMO

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by roger1818

It makes sense to me. Allowing vehicles to change 3 lanes in less than 100m is not safe, so preventing them from doing so is a good idea.

The westbound offramp at Bronson is somewhat similar, with drivers getting off the Queensway wanting to turn right onto Bronson. Never seen an accident, but car horns are a common sound.

[eltodesukane]

What about the 417 downtown exits? Open or not?
I called 311, recorded message says check Ottawa.ca website where no such information is to be found.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

What about the 417 downtown exits? Open or not?
I called 311, recorded message says check Ottawa.ca website where no such information is to be found.

According to Doug, the downtown Queensway exits are open this morning.

https://twitter.com/cbcotttraffic/st...C9kcL5jcMpAAAA

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

What about the 417 downtown exits? Open or not?
I called 311, recorded message says check Ottawa.ca website where no such information is to be found.

I always check with Google Maps (and/or Waze). They have a line with the MTO and update as changes occur.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

What about the 417 downtown exits? Open or not?
I called 311, recorded message says check Ottawa.ca website where no such information is to be found.

For the province, the map at 511on.ca has real-time closures, also available by calling 511.

For the city, traffic.ottawa.ca has a map of the city with incidents and closures.

[rocketphish]

Province plans to widen five-kilometre stretch of Highway 417

Michael Woods, CTV News Ottawa
Updated April 21, 2022 12:48 p.m. EDT | Published April 21, 2022 10:39 a.m. EDT



The Ontario government is planning to widen a five-kilometre section of the Queensway to four lanes in each direction.

Widening the stretch of Highway 417 from Maitland Avenue is part of a long-developed plan that originated before the city of Ottawa decided to run its LRT alongside the highway.

Transportation minister Caroline Mulroney made the announcement Thursday, although she did not commit to a timeline or cost estimate for the project.

“We’re working to implement it as quickly as possible, and I know there will be some news on that in the weeks to come,” she said at an announcement in Plantagenet, Ont.

The announcement Thursday is part of a new draft transportation plan for eastern Ontario. Other new projects include widening Highway 401 to eight lanes in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, as well as the addition of new truck stops along the 401.

The plan to widen Highway 417 all the way to the 416 originates from planning done before the city decided to build its LRT system. Stage 2 of the project, which is under construction, will run along part of the stretch of Highway 417 slated to be widened.

The previous Liberal government announced in 2016 it would widen the highway in two stretches. At the time, the provincial and federal governments each pledged $47.5 million for construction.

Work began shortly afterwards on the first stretch between Carling and Maitland avenues. But the new government had not committed to widening the second stretch until Thursday.

The government says the highway expansions will reduce gridlock and spur economic growth.

However, critics of the previous Highway 417 widening between Maitland and Carling avenues said it would undermine the LRT and lead to more cars downtown.

More to come…

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/province-p...-417-1.5870268

[rocketphish]

Transportation minister Caroline Mulroney made the announcement Thursday, although she did not commit to a timeline or cost estimate for the project.

Sounds just like more electioneering to me

[harls]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Sounds just like more electioneering to me

I expect a lot more promises to be floated out there in the coming days.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Sounds just like more electioneering to me

Wow. You sure are cynical.

Unlike the refund cheques that us 'folks' got for car license plate refunds.

[Ottawacurious]

Saw this today: the 417 bridge replacement plans in a little more concise detail: https://www.shawnmenard.ca/queensway...ate_april_2022

The project site is here with all the detail: https://417midtown.ca/

[rocketphish]

Planned closure of Queensway delayed due to ongoing labour disruptions

Hafsatou Balde, Ottawa Citizen
Jul 11, 2022 • 13 hours ago • 1 minute read

A planned closure of the Queensway for a bridge replacement has been postponed.

The provincial Ministry of Transportation (MTO) says the replacement of the Booth Street bridge on Highway 417 in Ottawa has been deferred because of ongoing labour disruptions.

The MTO says it’s working with contractor Kiewit-Dufferin Midtown Partnership to come up with a new date.

The highway was to be closed for 82 hours from July 14 to 18 for the bridge replacement.

New dates for the replacement will depend on the length of the current labour disruptions, along with the weather and events in the City of Ottawa, according to the MTO.

Residents affected by the closure will be advised once new dates are confirmed and information will be shared via Ontario 511 and signage on Highway 417.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...ur-disruptions

[rocketphish]

Queensway to close for five days starting Aug. 11 for Booth Street bridge replacement
Several on-ramps will also be closed, including the Maitland Avenue, Carling Avenue and Parkdale Avenue eastbound on-ramps.

Aedan Helmer, Ottawa Citizen
Aug 01, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 1 minute read



Expect numerous delays and detours if you’re planning to drive on the Queensway in mid-August.

A massive construction project will close Highway 417 in both eastbound and westbound directions for at least five days from Thursday, Aug. 11 to Monday, Aug. 15, according to the construction group that has been retained to replace the aging Booth Street bridge.

The Kiewit Dufferin Midtown Partnership group announced on Friday it had been retained by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to complete the roadwork.

The eastbound and westbound lanes will be closed between Kent Street and Island Park Drive at 8 p.m. on Aug. 11 and will remain closed until 6 a.m. Aug. 15, the company announced.

Several on-ramps will also be closed, including the Maitland Avenue, Carling Avenue and Parkdale Avenue eastbound on-ramps.

Westbound on-ramps will be closed at O’Connor Street and Rochester Street, while westbound on-ramps will remain closed at Bronson Avenue and Lyon Street.

KDMP said it will implement traffic control staging and there will be detours in place through city streets.

Booth Street will also be closed between Normand and Arlington Streets, and the company said that close is expected to last until Aug. 25.

KDMP said it is “intent to keep an open and upfront communication channel with all residents and affected agencies.”

The company announced last fall it had been retained to complete similar work on the Highway 417 bridges spanning Preston Street, Rochester Street, Booth Street, Bronson Avenue and Percy Street, along with “operational improvements” to O-Train bridges and noise barrier replacements between Island Park Drive and Kent Street.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...ge-replacement

[J.OT13]

Five days. Isn't it usually just a weekend?

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Five days. Isn't it usually just a weekend?

I think usually they do eastbound one weekend and westbound on another weekend, but this time they had to compress the schedule. Also 5 days is a bit of a hyperbole, as they are counting both the 11th and the 15th as full days but it is from 8 pm to 6 am respectively, so in reality it is only a total of 82 hours, which is only 3 days 10 hours.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I think usually they do eastbound one weekend and westbound on another weekend, but this time they had to compress the schedule. Also 5 days is a bit of a hyperbole, as they are counting both the 11th and the 15th as full days but it is from 8 pm to 6 am respectively, so in reality it is only a total of 82 hours, which is only 3 days 10 hours.

Makes sense, thanks!

[Richard Eade]

What might make even more sense to you is this:

The two-day Rapid Bridge Replacement is for when the abutments are being reused and the only thing being replaced (usually both east and west, one immediately after the other) is the decks. The old decks are lifted out, one at a time, and the new decks are installed, one at a time. The old decks can be put aside and demolished later.

If you look at the image in the linked article (above), you will see that the new structure includes new abutments. This might be because the old ones are no longer sound, or because the bridge is being lengthened or shortened. Whatever the reason, the old abutments need to also be dug out and removed. If the new structure is longer, the ramps may need to be pulled back even further to make room for the new structure. This takes extra time. Then, once the new unit is moved into place, ramps must be back-filled as the approaches are rebuilt. This is still Rapid Bridge Replacement, but it is a much bigger job than swapping new decks into place.

Recall that the approaches to the CPR/O-Train overpass had to be rebuilt (since that span was shorter than the original) and that planned 417 closure ran from 20:00, July 2, 2020 until 06:00, July 6, 2020.

[rocketphish]

Queensway shutdown starts Thursday
All eastbound, westbound lanes from Metcalfe to Carling/Kirkwood to close 8 p.m. Thursday, reopen Monday

CBC News
Posted: Aug 10, 2022 3:33 PM ET | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

A five-kilometre stretch of Highway 417 in central Ottawa will close in both directions from Thursday evening until the following Monday morning, resulting in what the city is predicting will be "significant traffic impacts."

All eastbound and westbound lanes of the major cross-town artery will be closed between Metcalfe Street and Carling/Kirkwood avenues from 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, until 6 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 15.

Gradual lane reductions and ramp closures will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Westbound on-ramps at O'Connor, Rochester and Parkdale, and eastbound on-ramps at Maitland, Carling/Kirkwood and Parkdale will also be closed during the shutdown. Westbound ramps at Bronson and Rochester are already closed.

According to the city, the closure is required to replace the bridge over Booth Street.

Here's a list of other road closures related to the Queensway project:

• Booth Street between Daniel McCann and Arlington streets. Booth will remain closed until Aug. 25.
• Raymond Street between Lebreton Street N. and Rochester Street. The segment between Lebreton and Booth Street is scheduled to reopen on Aug. 25. The segment between Booth and Rochester won't reopen until Oct. 30.
• Raymond Street westbound will be closed at Bronson Avenue from 6 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Monday.
• Rochester Street will be closed between Gladstone Avenue and Aberdeen Street from 6 p.m. Thursday, until 6 a.m. Monday.

During these closures, detours will be in place.

Westbound detour

• Westbound motorists must exit the highway at Metcalfe Street.
• Continue westbound on Catherine Street.
• Turn left on Bronson Avenue.
• Turn right on Carling Avenue
• Take the Highway 417 westbound on-ramp from Carling Avenue.

Eastbound detour

• Eastbound motorists must exit the highway at Carling/Kirkwood avenues.
• Continue eastbound on Carling Avenue.
• Turn left on Bronson Avenue.
• Turn right on Chamberlain Avenue.
• Continue onto Isabella Street.
• Take the Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp at Metcalfe Street.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...sday-1.6541179

[rocketphish]

Livecam of the Booth Street Queensway Bridge Replacement:

• Video Link