The days are getting shorter, the nights a little cooler, and the kids are back to school. As summer winds down and we return to daily routines, this is an opportunity to remember that mutual respect, kindness and consideration will go a long way in keeping our residents and workers safe during the busy fall season on our roads.
Construction didn’t take any time off this summer and there’s still a lot of the season left. Construction detours, lane and road closures and flagging operations can certainly be inconvenient, but they are temporary, and the results deliver better and safer infrastructure and facilities.
A safe environment for all
A construction site is the workplace of construction workers, and they have an important job to do. Construction is already a high-risk activity that can involve working at heights, around high-voltage systems, on busy roads, during extreme weather and often while operating heavy equipment. We all need to do our part to maintain safety for everyone. There are many ways we can work together so that everyone returns home at the end of the workday, safe and sound:
- Be patient when faced with delays or inconvenience.
- Slow down and follow posted speed limits, signage and construction flagging.
- Give construction workers, vehicles and equipment plenty of space to safely maneuver and operate.
- Be respectful and considerate and share the road with all users, including cyclists, construction workers, surveyors and flaggers.
- Be extra cautious and slow taking detours through community safety zones near schools.
- Pay attention to changes in traffic patterns and move into open lanes as early as possible.
- Consider using alternate forms of transportation such as transit, walking or cycling, or carpooling to limit traffic on the roads.
- Plan ahead for delays.
Avoid surprises: stay informed and map it out
There are many ways to stay informed about City projects so you can be well prepared when heading out on our streets:
- Visit the City’s construction page to find project webpages.
- Sign up for project newsletters and receive updates right to your inbox.
- Visit the capital construction forecast map to see current and forecasted construction projects in your neighbourhood.
Consider researching your route in advance and learning about any traffic impacts or detours in place. Take an alternate route to avoid work zones where possible. The City has two online mapping tools which show the latest construction work and traffic impacts:
- The traffic impacts webpage has up-to-date information about upcoming major traffic impacts.
- The interactive traffic map shows any traffic impacts on your preferred route.
If we exercise empathy and patience in our daily interactions and travels, we can all safely get to where we want to go.
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, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.