Ottawa·TRAFFIC

Be mindful of detours around this weekend's Queensway closure

Highway 417 closes at the Nicholas Street exit from 6 p.m. Saturday until 11 a.m. Sunday.

13 trains on the Confederation Line again

Highway 417 closes at the Nicholas Street exit the evening of March 14 until late morning on March 15. Accessing the highway will be more difficult for some drivers. (Denis Babin/CBC)

Good morning commuters!

The Confederation Line is back on schedule.

This morning OC Transpo replied to a question on Twitter saying there were 13 trains again on the LRT.

Aside from a few minutes on Monday morning where 12 trains briefly became 13 before one went out of service again, this is the first time the line is on its rush hour schedule since Feb. 26, more than two weeks ago.

Saturday night 417 closure

We're just a few days away from an inconvenient closure of Highway 417 at the Nicholas Street exit.

It closes both directions from 6 p.m. Saturday until 11 a.m. Sunday, resulting in significant traffic impacts.

The eastbound on-ramps at Nicholas and Metcalfe streets will also close, but all other ramps in the area will remain open.

Lane reductions and ramp closures are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Saturday. 

The closures are required to install six steel girders across the roadway as part of the MTO's Nicholas Street underpass replacement.

 

But this work is weather-dependant.

If it's pouring rain or snowing, the closure will happen the following weekend. That's not in the forecast right now.

Remember, this is the Trans-Canada highway.

If you're local, be wary of tie-ups on Lees Avenue and Nicholas and be mindful of the fact some detours go through the ByWard Market and Old Ottawa East.

Have a great day! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Doug Hempstead

CBC Ottawa's traffic specialist

Doug Hempstead is CBC Ottawa's traffic specialist and can be heard on CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning and All In A Day. Originally from the Ottawa Valley, Doug is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience in the region covering all types of news. You can reach him when he's on air at 613-288-6900. Tweet him at @cbcotttraffic or @DougHempstead. His e-mail is doug.hempstead@cbc.ca.