5 lane reductions, road closures to be aware of on Ottawa roads this weekend

Lane closures around Pinecrest Road on Highway 417 are leading to traffic congestion. The City of Ottawa says the closures are related to Stage 2 LRT work. May 14, 2026. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

Motorists will want to plan ahead and give themselves extra time to get around Ottawa this weekend due to road closures and lane reductions in several areas.

• Things to do in Ottawa: June 5-7

It’s a busy weekend in Ottawa with the Ottawa Redblacks home opener, Doors Open Ottawa at several venues across Ottawa, and events and festivals in all parts of Ottawa.

Construction will cause lane reductions on Highway 417 in two sections, while the NCC will close parkways for its Weekend Bikedays.

Here is a look at some of the road closures and lane reductions in Ottawa this weekend.

Highway 417 between Preston and Kent Street

Motorists are being warned of lane reductions and ramp closures on Highway 417 this weekend, between Preston Street and Kent Street.

• Lanes to be closed on Hwy. 417 between Kent and Preston streets this weekend

The Ministry of Transportation says work will be conducted between 9 p.m. Friday and Monday at 5 a.m.

Here is a look at the closures and lane reductions:

• The O’Connor Street westbound on-ramp will be closed all weekend.
• Highway 417 eastbound will have the left lane closed this weekend.
• Highway 417 westbound will have the two-lane reduction, with the two left-most lanes closed

“Motorists can expect congestion and delays, including on city roads around this weekend’s MTO highway work,” the city said.

According to the MTO, the work includes replacing the noise barrier wall along Highway 417, “in addition to other improvements to the highway and surrounding city streets.”

Highway 417 near Pinecrest

Lane reductions continue this weekend on Highway 417 between Pinecrest and Woodroffe.

One lane is closed in each direction around Pinecrest as part of work to install signage infrastructure for the Stage 2 O-Train western extension.

The work has caused delays in both directions daily since early May.

The Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp from southbound Pinecrest Road is closed until July 28 for Stage 2 LRT work.

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Highway 174

The City of Ottawa says the Hwy. 174 eastbound on-ramp from Place d’Orléans Drive will be closed from Thursday, June 4 until Friday, June 19.

Bank Street and Riverside Drive

The next phase of the Bank Street Renewal Project is causing lane closures on Riverside Drive at Bank Street.

The eastbound lanes of Riverside Drive are closed between Data Centre Road and Neil Way, near Pleasant Park Drive.

The city says eastbound traffic will be redirected via a temporary road to use Riverside Drive westbound, with one lane of traffic open in each direction. Left turns are also prohibited in all directions at the intersection of Bank Street and Riverside Drive.

The city recommends the following alternate routes for motorists who normally travel on Riverside Drive and Bank Street.

• If you normally go south on Riverside Drive and turn left to go south on Bank Street, consider Smyth Road to Alta Vista Drive to Bank Street.
• If you normally go north on Riverside Drive and turn left on Bank Street to go north, consider taking Heron Road to Bronson Avenue.
• If you normally go south on Bank Street and turn left on Riverside Drive to go east, consider taking Main Street and Smyth Road.
• If you normally go north on Bank Street and turn left on Riverside Drive, consider Heron Road to Bronson Avenue.

Construction also continues on Bank Street between Billings Bridge and Heron Road as part of the work, with lane reductions along Bank Street.

NCC Weekend Bikedays

The National Capital Commission is closing sections of parkways along the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal this weekend for its popular Weekend Bikedays.

The westbound lanes of the Kichi Zībī Mīkan will be closed on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. between Vimy Place and Carling Avenue.

The Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway will be closed between the Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Driveway will be closed Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Fifth Avenue and Somerset Street.

Other construction projects to be aware of this weekend

• Corkstown Road eastbound between Moodie Drive and Abbott Private is closed until June 30.
• Woodroffe Avenue northbound and southbound from Richmond Road to the Kichi Zìbì Mìkan is closed until Sunday, August 30.
• Byron Avenue eastbound from Woodland Avenue to Compton Avenue is closed until Sunday, September 6