Ottawa - To help east-end commuters, one Hwy 174 eastbound lane (between the Montreal and Jeanne D ‘Arc interchanges) has opened to vehicles between 3 and 8 p.m. Lane capacity will be limited and speed limits are reduced to 50 km/h. There will be no access to the Jeanne D ‘Arc interchange off ramp in the eastbound direction.

The two eastbound lanes of Hwy 174 will transition to one lane just east of the Rockcliffe Parkway overpass. This lane will be open until 8 p.m. when traffic will be diverted back to the Montreal Rd interchange closure for the evening.

Although the opening of the eastbound lane provides an increase in capacity, delays are still expected for those traveling to Orléans and beyond. Save time - OC Transpo express and Transitway routes are your fastest option to get you to Orléans. Extra buses have been added for express routes serving Orleans and to supplement Route 95 from Hurdman through to the Trim Park and Ride, which has recently been expanded by 360 spaces.

Commuters can plan their routes using the Travel Planner at octranspo.com and by following OC Transpo on twitter.

The City of Ottawa has tools on ottawa.ca to help motorists and transit users plan their routes and manage their commute.

• City of Ottawa Traffic Report – outlining citywide road closures, traffic restrictions and detours
• Interactive traffic map – showing construction areas and live traffic cams throughout the city and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) cameras along Highway 417.
• Cycling maps and information – detailing bicycle pathways and lanes throughout the city.

For traffic alerts and closures, follow the City on Twitter.

Both the City and Ottawa Police are suggesting that residents plan their routes, adjust their commute times, take the bus, car pool or work from home if possible.

For more information and current updates, visit ottawa.ca.

- 30 -