Avoid Highway 417, downtown roads until Monday morning
Highway closed through central Ottawa Thursday at 8 p.m. to Monday at 6 a.m.
A stretch of Highway 417 through central Ottawa was closed this weekend starting at 8 p.m. Thursday until Monday morning to replace the Bronson Avenue overpass.
Eastbound lanes closed at Carling Avenue and drivers couldn't return until Metcalfe Street. Westbound lanes closed at Metcalfe Street and reopened at the Rochester Street ramp.
Lane reductions and ramp closures began at 7 p.m. Thursday, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
The highway, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway, was scheduled to reopen Monday at 6 a.m. and was open by that time.
There was a livestream of the bridge replacement.
WATCH LIVE | The Bronson Avenue highway overpass gets replaced:
Detours
The suggested eastbound detour used Carling Avenue to turn left on Bronson Avenue and then right to continue along Imperial Avenue, Chamberlain Avenue and Isabella Street.
The detour for westbound traffic was shorter, sticking straight to Catherine and Raymond streets to get to the Rochester on ramp.
Drivers could always go further north or south if it works better for where they're starting or ending, or make the switch to transit, cycling, walking or another mode of travel to clear road space.
Plan ahead and as always, pay attention to local signs and rules. CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning and All In A Day have regular, live traffic updates on weekdays.
The city reminded occasional OC Transpo riders it has a two-for-one day pass on Saturdays and Sundays and kids 12 and under ride for free.
A similar project last summer tied up major roads between the Ottawa River and Hunt Club Road and between Woodroffe Avenue and Riverside Drive.
The National Capital Commission opened all of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway back up to vehicles Friday, Saturday and Sunday, interrupting its active use program. It did not change a similar weekend program on its two parkways along the Ottawa River.
Bronson closed for weeks
Bronson Avenue itself is closed to all traffic between Catherine Street and Imperial Avenue until the morning of July 27. Southbound Bronson closes one block earlier at Arlington Avenue while the highway is closed.
The contractors suggest Percy Street to the east as a pedestrian and cyclist detour and Booth or Bank streets for drivers.
The work follows similar bridge replacement projects along the 417 such as the overpasses above Rochester and Booth streets last year.
Percy and Preston street overpasses are also up for replacement. The province's goal to finish this round of bridge replacements is 2025.
