Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

Are the lakes a deficiency that is going to be corrected by the Contractor/negotiated with the Contractor/whoopsie-daisy by the City, and thus work is stopped?

They still haven't fixed any of the drainage issues on Queen Street.

[Tesladom]

An east-bound on-ramp would also be good from Bronson, but that's just daydreaming
There are like 4 EB off ramps from after Parkdale before the next onramp

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Tesladom

An east-bound on-ramp would also be good from Bronson, but that's just daydreaming
There are like 4 EB off ramps from after Parkdale before the next onramp

There used to be one there - up until the 70s maybe? I think that the issue is space. With the massive two-lane off-ramp for Kent, there would be no room for an on-ramp at Bronson. I think you would basically need to recreate the basket-weave you see at the WB on-ramp at Lyon, which doesn't meet MTO standards, and you would be weaving across two lanes of exiting traffic.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by TransitZilla

I think the issue is lack of space under the 417 bridge for a southbound left-turn lane.

Yes, you're right, that is the issue. They didn't widen the road under the bridge when the did the rapid bridge replacement, for obvious reasons. I think they could still fit a small left turn lane along the lines of the current one, but the City felt that would be insufficient and went with the second road.

They described the primary concern as traffic backing up through the Catherine intersection. Personally I don't see why they couldn't manage without a turn lane and just put in an advanced green to help move traffic. There are left turns permitted from the left lane all the way down Bronson, and probably 3/4 of the current left turning volume at Chamberlain will be eliminated as cars from the highway will be able to go straight through. I don't think that the impact of allowing turns there would be that significant, particularly with some priority.

I suspect a big part of the reason was keeping the off-ramp type turn from Bronson NB onto Chamberlain without the nuisance of a traffic light. Makes for more excitement for pedestrians trying to cross.

[Richard Eade]

Except, I believe that I heard from someone that, during the planning for the 417 Bronson overpass replacement, the MTO asked the City if they wanted to lengthen the overpass so that an extra lane could be added to Bronson. This is purely rumour, but I believe it to be true. Since the City would have had to foot a huge bill for the change, it declined the option and the MTO did a Rapid Bridge Replacement with a like structure, at its own cost.

What I would like to see happen now:

Pipe-Jack Tunneling should be used to create pedestrian/cycling passes under the 417 on each side of the Bronson overpass. Then the sidewalks along the section of Bronson under the overpass can be removed, and that space allocated to the missing south-bound left-turn lane.

Get rid of Chamberlain west of Percy. Connect Imperial out to a signalized intersection with Plymouth and Bronson. People who want to go east on Chamberlain will turn at the new ramp intersection.

FIX THE 417 OFF-RAMP to Catherine, and the Catherine/Raymond intersection with Bronson. There should be a separate lane to the 417 on-ramp, west of Bronson. Also, the MTO should not ‘hog’ the two left-turn lanes onto south-bound Bronson. It should guide drivers, preferentially, to the inside lane – but still allowing overflow to mingle with people from Catherine who are trying to turn left.

[phil235]

Agreed - that would be much better than the current situation. By moving all of Chamberlain north, you eliminate one of the worst crossings for pedestrians on Bronson and you create some extra developable land and the opportunity to expand the park. All without worsening traffic on Bronson.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by phil235

There used to be one there - up until the 70s maybe? I think that the issue is space. With the massive two-lane off-ramp for Kent, there would be no room for an on-ramp at Bronson. I think you would basically need to recreate the basket-weave you see at the WB on-ramp at Lyon, which doesn't meet MTO standards, and you would be weaving across two lanes of exiting traffic.

I feel like the Queensway from Nicholas to Carling doesn't meet MTO standards.

Anyhow. Random thought.

Can I fire one off on these companies that do perpendicular road cutting and back fills for like a replaced sewer outlet on a house or whatever type of utility work and without a doubt just do a single aggregate fill and pack prior to asphalt? You must understand that these companies are licensed, bonded insured through the wazoo and in the realm of city works outside of sewer lists are handpicked from a relatively short list and yet my bump stops are the first to hear about them.

See.. we don't need to redesign roads like the people who choke on their own drool on r/Ottawa who talk about putting chicanes on Baseline road so drivers don't have to take personal responsibility.

We got that built in. It's not a bug. It's a feature.

I used to live on Miss Ottawa st. Yes. Like the beauty pageant. For whatever reason the old roadworks.. not backfilled as I just described heaved up and down horribly. I had a 1 1/2" drop on my sedan and even at 40 kph this thing was dangerously close to bottoming out at all times.

If you know the area, Miss Ottawa and eventually Jasmine would be a semi common cut through to avoid Montreal road and Ogilvie junction.

I took a sick pleasure in watching dickheads bomb down my road at 60 plus only to watch the sparks fly once the waterbed like jelly roll got going.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

I was at the intersection of Richmond and Golden yesterday, right at the foot of Byron Linear Park (Where the farmers market is on the weekends).

Aside from partially complete reconstruction of the intersection that's been sitting, unfinished, and no work occurring for the last two months (a mess of unfinished gravel/bike lanes/upturned signage/ unfinished curb mess...

It was raining quite heavily, and ALL of the pedestrian crosswalks were lakes. The roads were un-puddled, however there was 4-5" of water on EVERY crosswalk of that intersection. Like, perfectly aligned rectangles of water at each crosswalk. A brand new intersection.

WTF.

Are the lakes a deficiency that is going to be corrected by the Contractor/negotiated with the Contractor/whoopsie-daisy by the City, and thus work is stopped?

Drainage on Richmond between Golden and Cleary has always been a problem. Not sure why but certainly hope that the reconstruction addresses the issue.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

What I would like to see happen now:

Pipe-Jack Tunneling should be used to create pedestrian/cycling passes under the 417 on each side of the Bronson overpass. Then the sidewalks along the section of Bronson under the overpass can be removed, and that space allocated to the missing south-bound left-turn lane.

This isn't possible due to the design of the replacement bridge.

The bridges have footings that hook inwards at the bottom, under the sidewalk. This is why the sidewalks under the bridges are much higher than the roadway - they are above the concrete footings.

Regardless, putting pedestrians in a box culvert is a CPTED nightmare, especially near Centretown.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Catenary

Regardless, putting pedestrians in a box culvert is a CPTED nightmare, especially near Centretown.

Notionally, or data-backed?

[rocketphish]

Highway 417 work could wrap up by late June, city says
Lane closures have caused headaches for commuters west of downtown

CBC News
Posted: Jun 13, 2026 2:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Drivers frustrated by Highway 417 lane closures that have caused big bottlenecks west of downtown could now see relief by late June, the city says.

In a memo to city councillors Saturday, rail construction program director Richard Holder said the lanes near between the Woodroffe Avenue and Pinecrest Road exits could reopen as early as June 22, more than five weeks ahead of the original schedule.

The closures, caused by work on the western expansion of Ottawa's light rail network, have been wreaking havoc on commutes since they began in May.

They were initially expected to last until late July. The reopening had previously been pushed up to July 6.

To meet the new June 22 date, crews will need to work through the night in the area next weekend, Holder wrote. Drivers should expect:

• Westbound lane and ramp closures from 9 p.m. on June 20 until 8 a.m. on June 21.
• Eastbound lane and ramp closures from 9 p.m. on June 21 until 5 a.m. on June 22.

That work depends on the weather co-operating, Holder added.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/highway-417-construction-work-finish-date-june-9.7234618

[skyscraperaccount]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Highway 417 work could wrap up by late June, city says
Lane closures have caused headaches for commuters west of downtown

CBC News
Posted: Jun 13, 2026 2:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

Drivers frustrated by Highway 417 lane closures that have caused big bottlenecks west of downtown could now see relief by late June, the city says.

In a memo to city councillors Saturday, rail construction program director Richard Holder said the lanes near between the Woodroffe Avenue and Pinecrest Road exits could reopen as early as June 22, more than five weeks ahead of the original schedule.

The closures, caused by work on the western expansion of Ottawa's light rail network, have been wreaking havoc on commutes since they began in May.

They were initially expected to last until late July. The reopening had previously been pushed up to July 6.

To meet the new June 22 date, crews will need to work through the night in the area next weekend, Holder wrote. Drivers should expect:

• Westbound lane and ramp closures from 9 p.m. on June 20 until 8 a.m. on June 21.
• Eastbound lane and ramp closures from 9 p.m. on June 21 until 5 a.m. on June 22.

That work depends on the weather co-operating, Holder added.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/highway-417-construction-work-finish-date-june-9.7234618

Must be an election year...

[golfguy9]

They finally repaved the entire left lane on the WB Queensway so it no longer feels like one side of your car is on rainbow road.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Notionally, or data-backed?

CPTED is not exactly a strict science, but the difference between walking along a sidewalk that is open to the road and an enclosed box culvert is not particularly subjective. One is going to make people a lot less comfortable than the other.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Catenary

CPTED is not exactly a strict science, but the difference between walking along a sidewalk that is open to the road and an enclosed box culvert is not particularly subjective. One is going to make people a lot less comfortable than the other.

But from a three-D spacial point of view, a box culvert is generally going to be a transport solution only where a surface sidewalk isn't an option.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

But from a three-D spacial point of view, a box culvert is generally going to be a transport solution only where a surface sidewalk isn't an option.

Perhaps you didn't catch it, but the option proposed was not a surface sidewalk. The comment I was replying to was regarding pipe jack tunnelling a separate sidewalk under the highway so the sidewalks could be eliminated in the underpass and the road widened to 6 lanes.

[Richard Eade]

Wasn’t sure where to put this, so it wound up in Highway Issues.

I have to wonder how much of our flooding problem is due to improper maintenance.

Here is a photo from a CTV NEWS article about minor flooding on the 417, just west of the Richmond Road overpass, after our rain on Monday, August 10, 2026. That rainfall measured about 23.5 mm, between about 15:00 and 19:00, with most falling in the final two hours.


https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/se...vy-rain-brief-tornado-warning-to-ottawa/

In that image, the (assumed) MTO employee is working hard to clear a catch basin to drain the flooded area – which is shown in this photo from the same CTV NEWS article.



Unfortunately, the man is not where the catch basins are. In this annotated Google satellite view, I have marked the catch basins in black. Where the worker is desperately toiling is marked with a red arrow. I doubt that he was able to clear the water.



However, that second CTV NEWS image also shows that additional maintenance work is needed to keep catch basins, and their culverts, clear. You can see that there is a build up of stormwater on both sides of the west-bound lanes of the highway. There are multiple catch basin grates on each side of the road, since this is a low point where water is expected to collect. That the stormwater is pooling and not flowing away tells me that a) the culvert does not allow enough flow; or b) the catch basin grates are clogged. The second is what the fellow is trying to clear.

However, as mentioned, there are two grates per side of the road, based on the above annotated Google satellite view. This would indicate that the culvert should be of a large diameter. That said, it is probably that there is debris within that culvert, restricting the flow. Certainly, there is debris on top of many of the catch basin grates – shown in this Google Street View image of the catch basin just west of the Richmond Road overpass:



Perhaps the MTO needs to run a street-sweeper along the shoulders every now and again. And clear out their culverts every couple of years.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

In that image, the (assumed) MTO employee is working hard to clear a catch basin to drain the flooded area – which is shown in this photo from the same CTV NEWS article.

The truck belongs to Webber, the MTO's Area Maintenance Contractor. The MTO only patrols a couple of small areas of provincial highway in-house.

Unfortunately, the man is not where the catch basins are. In this annotated Google satellite view, I have marked the catch basins in black. Where the worker is desperately toiling is marked with a red arrow. I doubt that he was able to clear the water.

I think the extra-tall wall there is throwing off the depth perception, but it's clearer in the wide shot that he's cleared the correct location - next to the handle of his tool you can see the depression in the water where it's flowing into the catch basin.

However, that second CTV NEWS image also shows that additional maintenance work is needed to keep catch basins, and their culverts, clear. You can see that there is a build up of stormwater on both sides of the west-bound lanes of the highway. There are multiple catch basin grates on each side of the road, since this is a low point where water is expected to collect. That the stormwater is pooling and not flowing away tells me that a) the culvert does not allow enough flow; or b) the catch basin grates are clogged. The second is what the fellow is trying to clear.

However, as mentioned, there are two grates per side of the road, based on the above annotated Google satellite view. This would indicate that the culvert should be of a large diameter. That said, it is probably that there is debris within that culvert, restricting the flow. Certainly, there is debris on top of many of the catch basin grates – shown in this Google Street View image of the catch basin just west of the Richmond Road overpass:



Perhaps the MTO needs to run a street-sweeper along the shoulders every now and again. And clear out their culverts every couple of years.

The debris in the picture is nowhere near blocking the catch basin - you can see most of it remains exposed. They sweep every spring, but as you can imagine it's a high-cost and high-risk endeavor compared to regular street sweeping.

High volumes of water are always a problem - lots of debris that isn't even on the highway is going to be quickly swept into the gutter and block drains. Manually clearing the drains is pretty much always going to be required in abnormal conditions.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Catenary

The debris in the picture is nowhere near blocking the catch basin

But that amount of debris is enough to seriously shorten the length of time and reduce the amount of rain that a rainfall will need to clog the entire thing with debris and cause it to stop doing its intended job.