A long-running battle over heavy truck traffic in Manotick is now headed to court, with a community group arguing the designated truck route puts residents at risk and violates their Charter rights. For years, residents have raised concerns about transport trucks navigating the tight intersection of Bridge Street and Manotick Main Street, frequently mounting the curb or crossing into opposing traffic lanes while making wide turns. “They either go over the sidewalk where people are supposed to be standing, or they veer into the opposite straight lane and make a wide turn,” said Jim Sproule, a member of Manotick Concerned Citizens Against Truck Traffic (MCCATT). “So, this is a particularly dangerous intersection.” An engineering report commissioned by MCCATT found 1,079 trucks travelled along Bridge Street during an 11-hour traffic count in June 2024. The report also identified safety concerns for pedestrians and concluded the route was unsuitable for large trucks. The group is now taking the City of Ottawa to court, arguing the truck-route designation violates sections 7 and 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protect the right to life, liberty and security of the person, and equality under the law. “Especially for those who are disabled and have mobility issues and who are elderly, this designation disadvantages them disproportionately versus other members of the population,” said Natalia Rodriguez, a lawyer representing the group. “We think it’s only a matter of time before there’s a serious accident or a fatality as a result of these trucks and that’s why we’re bringing the application so that the designation will be struck down.” The engineering report recommends redirecting trucks travelling through Manotick over Vimy Memorial Bridge, while continuing to allow local deliveries. The group says the alternative would add roughly six minutes to a truck’s journey. MCCATT says it has repeatedly asked the City to remove the truck-route designation, including requesting a temporary restriction while the issue is addressed. “They could temporarily close the trucking route, and they refuse to do so,” Sproule said. “That’s a really, really important question. We don’t know why.” In a written statement, area councillor David Brown said, “I have been clear since taking office that reducing and ultimately removing heavy truck traffic from the centre of Manotick is a priority for me. I understand the concerns residents have raised about safety, and my office has been working proactively and collaboratively with City staff, community representatives, and other stakeholders to achieve meaningful, lasting change.” Brown pointed to seasonal truck restrictions introduced on a portion of Manotick Main Street in 2024 and an ongoing City study examining alternatives for Bridge Street. But the Bridge Street truck-route designation remains in place, and residents say they have waited long enough. “I won’t allow my young kids to walk across the street or walk to school on their own until we have some type of rectification of this,” said Richard Walker a member of MCCATT. Sproule believes the city needs to act before someone is seriously injured. “It’s as if the city requires a human sacrifice before they’re going to do something,” he said. In a statement Stuart Huxley, City Solicitor tells CTV News, “The City of Ottawa is responding to an application commenced by Manotick Concerned Citizens Against Truck Traffic (MCCATT). The City will address the application through the court process. As this matter is now before the courts, the City will not be commenting further on the litigation.” The allegations in the Charter challenge have not been proven in court.
