Traffic services

For ongoing traffic impacts, including updates on construction and roadwork, information about traffic and for travel planning, visit the City’s traffic map or follow the City’s traffic account on Twitter.

• The following lane closures will be in effect on the Westbound Highway 417 for infrastructure improvements by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation between 9 pm on Friday, October 25 and 5 am on Monday, October 28:
  • The right lane will close daily between the Metcalfe Street and Bronson Avenue overpasses, including closures of the O’Connor Street on-ramp and the Bronson Avenue off-ramp.
  • One lane will close nightly between the Bank Street and Bronson Avenue overpasses.
• Dunrobin Road, between Murphy Side Road and Thomas Dolan Parkway, will close from Monday, October 28 to Friday, November 1 for a culvert replacement. A signed detour will be in place to direct traffic to use Old Second Line Road as the alternate route.  Local traffic only on Dunrobin Road. Pedestrians and cyclists will be accommodated on Dunrobin Road but cannot cross the excavation site. Please watch for signs.
• The Riverside Drive off and on ramps on the south side of Smyth Road will close nightly between 6 and 11 pm from Monday, October 28 to Wednesday, October 30 for cycling safety improvements. The adjacent sidewalks will also be closed. Alternate access to and from Smyth Road eastbound will be via the Hospital Link Road to the north or Pleasant Park Road to the south. The truck detour route is via Bank Street to Isabella Street, Hawthorne Avenue, Main Street to Smyth Road. Access to the Riverside Hospital is maintained via the south entrance off Riverside Drive. A pedestrian and cyclist detour will be in place.
• McCarthy Road, from Plante Drive to the railway tracks, will have lane reductions daily between 9:30 am and 3 pm, and in the evenings between 6 pm and 10 pm from Wednesday, October 23 to Friday, November 1 for concrete median installations. Please watch for signs and flagging, as necessary. Pedestrians and cyclists will be accommodated.
• Youville Drive will be reduced to one lane at the west entrance to the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex on Friday, October 25 and Thursday, October 31 for resurfacing work of the facility parking lot. Access to the recreation complex will be via the east entrance. Pedestrians and cyclists will be accommodated.
• Highway 174- the following Highway 174 ramp and lanes will be closed for Stage 2 LRT roadwork:
  • Westbound Highway 174 from Montreal Road to Blair Road will be reduced one lane daily from Monday, October 28 to Tuesday, October 29 between 10 am to 5 pm.
  • The eastbound on-ramp from eastbound Montreal Road will be closed from Friday, October 25 at 7 pm to 5:30 am on Monday, October 28.
  • The westbound on-ramps from Montreal Road will be closed from 7 pm on Friday, October 25 to 5:30 am on Monday, October 28.
  • The westbound off-ramp to Montreal Road will be closed from 7 pm on Friday, October 25 to 5:30 am on Monday, October 28.
  • Westbound Highway 174 east of Blair Road will be reduced to two lanes from 6 am to 1 pm on Saturday, November 2.
• Northbound Orléans Boulevard between Lumberman Way and Fortune Drive will be reduced to one lane from 8 pm on Sunday, June 23 to 5 am on Friday, November 1.
• Eastbound and westbound Montreal Road will be fully closed from 7 pm on Friday, October 25 to 5:30 am on Monday, October 28.
• Westbound Montreal Road under the Highway 174 overpass will be reduced to one lane between 9:30 am to 3 pm on Friday, October 25.
• Highway 417 - the following Highway 417 ramp and lanes will be closed for Stage 2 LRT roadwork:
  • Westbound Highway 417 from Holly Acres Road to Moodie Drive will be reduced to one lane nightly between 11 pm to 5 am from Monday, October 28 to Thursday, October 31.
  • The westbound on-ramp from northbound Holly Acres Road will be closed nightly between 11 pm to 5 am from Monday, October 28 to Thursday, October 31.

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Stay up to date on road closures and detours that might affect your commute.

• Travel Planner at octranspo.com
• City of Ottawa Traffic Report
• Interactive traffic map
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario cameras along Highway 417
• Cycling maps and information

Pavement markings are important for the safety of all road users, especially during nighttime driving. Wear on road paint is accelerated where traffic volumes are high and snow, salt and grit further limits durability.

The annual pavement marking renewal program begins by May, following the start of road sweeping operations. All existing paint on the road is refreshed each year, including all intersection markings, longitudinal roadway lines, cycling facilities, traffic calming measures, and more.

Most of this work occurs at night when traffic volumes are low. In rural areas some work is completed during the daytime.

Priority

By May each year, crews are deployed all over Ottawa in the following priority sequencing:

1. Locations with irregular markings, and/or significant safety concerns
2. Cycling facilities and pedestrian crossovers (PXO)
3. High-volume roads and intersections
4. Low-volume roads

All pavement markings will be refreshed as part of this regularly scheduled maintenance, rather than based on requests from the public.

To request a change to existing pavement markings or the installation of new pavement markings, contact 3-1-1.

Equipment and Type of Paint

Several different vehicles and paint are used to refresh over 6,500 intersections and countless kilometres of roadway each year.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) paint truck:

• Operates June to September, requiring warmer temperatures than other paint;
• The 2022 season is the second year applying MMA paint which is highly durable, having potential to reduce the workload of the annual maintenance program over time.

Acetone and Water-based paint truck:

• Operates May to November;
• Uses acetone-based paint in cooler spring and fall months, and water-based paint during warmer months.

Additional equipment for specialty markings

• Includes application of thermal plastic designs

The Traffic Service Catalogue outlines the services that are provided in relation to traffic safety inquiries. The Catalogue covers topics such as speed, pedestrians and cyclists, warning signs, traffic control, heavy trucks, parking and schools.

Seasonal Load Restrictions

Seasonal load restrictions will no longer be in effect as of Monday, April 29, 2024

During the spring thaw period, typically early March to mid-May, some roads cannot withstand heavy vehicle loads. Every year, the City of Ottawa monitors thaw progression by utilizing the forecast temperature data from Environment Canada and Weather Network to calculate the Thaw Index. When the Thaw Index reaches its threshold value, the load restrictions are imposed. Depending on the progression of the spring thaw, restrictions can come into effect quickly, sometimes with only a few days notice.

• During the Seasonal Load Restricted period, commercial vehicles or trailers with a gross vehicle weight in excess of five (5) tonnes or 11,000 pounds per axle are prohibited on roads identified as “Restricted Loads” on the Truck Route Maps, (Urban Truck Routes and Rural Truck Routes).
• These restrictions also apply to all non-truck routes. Roads designated as “Full-Loads” can carry full loads all year.
• Heavy vehicles that exceed weight limits on restricted load roadways during the spring thaw period are subject to fines.

For further information on seasonal load restrictions, please call 3-1-1.

Truck Route List

Safety Features

Low-speed vehicles must be operated in accordance with Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act and must meet the requirements of Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA). They are not designed to the same crashworthiness standard as regular vehicles because of their limitation for use in low-speed environments.  They also require a ‘slow-moving vehicle’ sign on the back warning other drivers of their slow speed.

Furthermore, all low-speed vehicles will be required by Transport Canada to incorporate audible sound emissions starting in 2023. Electric-powered vehicles are quiet and can pose a danger those who are blind or partially sighted, so the sound emission provides an auditory warning of their approach.

Environmental Impact

Low-speed vehicles are a more environmentally friendly method of transportation as opposed to traditional gas and diesel powered vehicles. They replace large vehicles consuming fossil fuels with much smaller vehicles that do not produce any tailpipe smoke or smog - allowing for significant reduction of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Pilot Program

Low-speed vehicles are permitted in Ontario under a provincial pilot project valid until June  2027: Ontario Regulation 215/17.  The City of Ottawa approved their operation through a municipal by-law, as required by the provincial regulation, which came into effect in August 2022.  Applications to operate a low-speed vehicle may be submitted to the City for review and, once approved, organizations may test their low-speed vehicles for up to one year (renewable).  The City of Ottawa will collect information and feedback in support of the provincial review of this pilot program. 

Provincial Rules for Low-Speed Vehicles

The Province of Ontario requires that all low-speed vehicles be registered with Service Ontario. Each operator must apply to obtain a special low-speed vehicle license plate and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) approved by the province. As part of this process, a low-speed vehicle declaration must be completed, acknowledging that the vehicle is part of a provincial wide pilot program, that it does not possess all the same safety features as a typical vehicle, and that it will only be used in jurisdictions where operation has been approved. A link to this declaration form and additional information can be found on Low-speed vehicle pilot program | ontario.ca

How to Apply for a City of Ottawa Low-Speed Vehicle Permit

To apply to operate a low-speed vehicle in Ottawa, each company must fill out declaration form stating that the company understands the requirements of the pilot program, and that there is an decreased number of safety features as opposed to a regular motor vehicle. Each company also must provide proof of insurance and liability coverage and demonstrate the vehicle has been registered with the Province of Ontario.

For more information about low-speed vehicles in Ottawa or to apply for a permit to operate, please contact lsv-vbv@ottawa.ca.

Low-Speed Vehicles (By-law No. 2022-276)

Reporting Issues

Issues regarding operation of LSVs in Ottawa can be reported by calling 3-1-1 or by contacting 311@ottawa.ca or dialing 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.