Work to begin on Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Fifth Avenue for new crossing
Work will begin on Tuesday, May 27, for the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Fifth Avenue to improve the safety and comfort level of pedestrians and cyclists using this crossing point.
Work will continue until early July, and will involve various degrees of disruption affecting motorists on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, people using the Rideau Canal Pathway, and businesses and residents in the area.
During the construction period, outside peak hours, from 9 am to 3:30 pm, the traffic lanes on Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Fifth Avenue will be closed alternately over a distance of 150 metres. Occasionally, work may continue after 6 pm. Flag persons and directional signage will be on-site to direct traffic in the open lane of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway; users should expect delays. Work will be take place from Monday to Saturday, weather permitting.
Although the Rideau Canal Pathway along the Queen Elizabeth Driveway will remain open during the work, a detour will be created through the construction area. Signage will be present to inform users of this alternative route. Users can also take the Rideau Canal Pathway along Colonel By Drive during the work.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) urges motorists and pathway users to comply with directions indicated by flag persons and obey the directional signage installed on the construction site to ensure their safety. The work will be carried out in partnership with the City of Ottawa, and includes the installation of a traffic light that will be activated by pedestrians and cyclists, as needed. Additional pavement markings and support signage will also be installed.
In 2011, the NCC completed the Rideau Canal Corridor Pedestrian Crossing Study with the participation of community associations and interest groups in the area, as well as representatives from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. The study identified key crossing points along the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Colonel By Drive, as well as solutions to enhance the safety and the comfort level for pedestrians and cyclists crossing in these locations. The NCC, in partnership with the City of Ottawa, is now proceeding with this work.
The planning and design work for the crossing point at Colonel By Drive and Clegg Street is currently under way.