Attention, Ottawa residents!

This weekend is set to bring significant disruptions to both the O-Train service and local roadways as the City of Ottawa announces crucial construction work that will impact travel plans.

Road Closures at Hunt Club and Riverside

Starting this weekend, the southbound right-turn lane on Riverside Drive at Hunt Club Road will close overnight and persist through the weekend. The city has outlined the following schedule for the construction related to the Hunt Club Road and Riverside Drive intersection modifications project:

- **Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m. to Friday, Sept. 27, 6:30 a.m.**

- **Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. to Monday, Sept. 30, 6:30 a.m.**

- **Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. to Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6:30 a.m.**

- **Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. to Friday, Oct. 4, 6:30 a.m.**

The purpose of these closures is to reconstruct the southbound right-turn channels, improving active transportation crossings, and elevating cycling safety in the area.

The city urges all residents to heed any signage and construction flagging. Pedestrians will be rerouted to the east sidewalk for crossing at Hunt Club Road, while cyclists are advised to merge into traffic, take a lane, or opt to walk their bikes using the designated pedestrian crossings.

To ease potential frustration, drivers are encouraged to utilize alternative routes such as Hog’s Back Road or Earl Armstrong Road/Vimy Memorial Bridge to bypass the congestion.

O-Train Line 1 Service Disruptions

In addition to road inconveniences, there will be a halt in service for O-Train Line 1. Passengers should note that the service between Tunney’s Pasture and Blair stations will be suspended this Sunday, Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., as well as for the entire day on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Fortunately, during the service suspension on September 29, R1 replacement bus service will be available every eight minutes between the stations from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Similarly, on October 5, R1 buses will run every eight minutes from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. for the same route.

Furthermore, shuttle services will operate at 15-minute intervals between St-Laurent and Cyrville stations and every 30 minutes between Lees Station and Mackenzie King Bridge.

The city is utilizing this downtime to conduct vital testing on the communications and computer systems that integrate the Stage 2 East Extension with the Line 1 system. Residents may witness trains running during this testing phase, contributing to the overall improvement of the transit experience.

While the developments might cause short-term inconveniences, the City of Ottawa assures that they are working diligently to minimize disruptions and deliver better services for future commuters.

Stay informed, plan ahead, and drive safe! 🚦