Construction to see lane reductions on Riverside Drive at Bank Street starting May 19

Road signs are seen stacked on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Ottawa’s construction season will ramp up after the Victoria Day long weekend, as the next phase of the Bank Street renewal begins with lane closures in the Billings Bridge area.

The city is currently undertaking a renewal of Bank Street, between Riverside Drive and Ledbury Avenue, including the replacement of the underground sewers and watermains and road and sidewalk reconstruction.

Starting on Tuesday, May 19, construction will begin in the area of Riverside Drive and Bank Street.

The eastbound lanes of Riverside Drive, between Data Centre Road and Neil Way, will be closed to vehicles. The City of Ottawa says eastbound traffic will be redirected along a temporary road to use the westbound lanes on Riverside Drive.

The eastbound lane closures are expected to last until late summer.

As part of the construction, left turns will be prohibited in all directions at the Bank Street and Riverside Drive intersection beginning May 19.

Alternate routes

The City of Ottawa offers motorists the following suggestions to get around the Bank Street and Riverside Drive construction:

• 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.

Bank Street continues to operate in one lane in each direction between Riverside Drive and Collins Avenue.

The Bank Street reconstruction is being done in two phases, with the work between Riverside Drive and Collin Avenue expected to be completed next year. The second phase will see work on Bank Street between Collins Avenue and Ledbury Avenue.

Summer construction season

The City of Ottawa will officially kick off summer construction season on Friday.

The city plans to invest more than $691 million into infrastructure projects this year, including road rehabilitation, bridge repairs and water and sewer reconstruction.

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