Montreal Road Revitalization

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Pedestrian access to local businesses and private properties is being maintained throughout construction, and Montreal Road businesses remain open. 

Project limits

The project limits for Montreal Road are North River Road to St. Laurent Boulevard for a total distance of 2 kilometres. In addition to the Montreal Road corridor, the project includes reconstruction of North River Road from Montreal Road to the North River Road cul-de-sac for a total distance of 560 metres length.

Key plan [ PDF - 377 KB ]

Landscape roll plan [ PDF - 6 MB ]

Project description

The City of Ottawa has completed the 18-month long detail design phase of the Montreal Road corridor and construction began in June 2019.

The ultimate vision for Montreal Road is to construct a vibrant and welcoming main street with a well-balanced transportation network that will allow residents and businesses to thrive. To achieve this vision, some of the following aboveground and underground improvements are proposed:

• Construct a three-lane cross section between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard that includes two eastbound lanes, one westbound lane and cycling tracks/lanes in both directions.
• Bury overhead Hydro lines between North River Road and L’Eglise Street.
• Implement streetscaping features along Montreal Road, including but not limited to new street furniture, streetlights, trees, concrete sidewalks and paver stones.
• Review and improve bus stop and bus shelter locations.
• Replace the existing watermain between North River Road and St. Laurent Boulevard.
• Replace sanitary and storm sewers along certain sections of Montreal Road.
• Inclusion of traffic calming measures and pedestrian/cycling features on North River Road.

As part of the Montreal Road project, the 560 metre long section of North River Road (north of Montreal Road) is planned for reconstruction. The proposed works include replacement of the watermain, sanitary sewers and road drainage modifications.

Project timing

Project construction began in June 2019 with underground utility work. A general summary of the construction timelines and project staging are as follows:

• 2019 – Construction of underground Hydro Ottawa conduits and other utility work on Montreal Road between North River Road and de L’Eglise Street.
• 2020 – Continued utility work as well as watermain and sewer construction on Montreal Road and North River Road (Montreal Road to north cul-de-sac). Completed road and underground work along Montreal Road between North River Road and the Vanier Parkway.
• 2021 – Continued underground watermain, sewer and surface works (sidewalk, cycle track and road) on Montreal Road between the Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard. By the end of 2022, most surface works will be completed between North River Road and Lafontaine Avenue.
• 2022 – Complete underground sewer and some surface works (sidewalk, cycle track and road).
• 2023 – Complete remaining works such as final commissioning of the cycle track east of Lafontaine Avenue, intersection work at de L’Église Street and Lafontaine Avenue, and remaining landscaping. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-summer 2023.

The above timelines and sequence of work may change as the work progresses along Montreal Road.

Project budget

The City is making a significant investment to renew Montreal Road and North River Road (estimated at $64 million) with funding authority identified as part of the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 capital budgets.

Contact information

For further information, please contact the project team or alternatively, the City Project Manager:

Mario Kotowski, P.Eng.
Senior Engineer, Infrastructure Projects
Design and Construction - Municipal
Infrastructure and Water Services Department
City of Ottawa
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 26075

Construction on Montreal Road is winding down for the year and final winter preparations are underway.  All work is scheduled to stop by the second week of December after the contractor has completed the following remaining work:

• Sidewalk, cycle track and driveway reinstatements to ensure an adequate surface for snow plowing
• Removal of all traffic control devices allowing for opening of the final road configuration between the Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard (two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane)
• Opening of all side streets connecting to Montreal Road
• General site cleanup 

Please note that cycle track snow clearing will only occur along the completed section of the cycle track from Vanier Parkway to Begin Street (eastbound) and Park Street (westbound). The section of cycle track east of Begin/Park Street to St. Laurent Boulevard is incomplete and requires installation of the following key safety and operational features to be considered open:

• Green thermoplastic or Methyl Methcrylate (MMA) paint at all intersections and major driveways marking conflict zones between cyclists and motorists
• Regulator signage and pavement markings along the cycle track and at intersections
• Bike signal heads at intersections controlling the movement of cyclists

The above features will be implemented in spring 2023, allowing for the entire segment of cycle track between Vanier Parkway and St. Laurent Boulevard to be open and winter maintained for years to come.

2022 highlights

A substantial amount of underground and aboveground work was completed this year. Here are some 2022 highlights:

• Completion of all Montreal Road underground work including watermain, sewer, telecommunications, and other utilities
• Completion of all concrete curbs, sidewalks, and asphalt cycle tracks from Vanier Parkway to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Permanent reopening of Montreal Road to two-way traffic and removal of the eastbound Montreal Road detour along MacArthur Avenue
• Burial of 600 metres of overhead hydro and communication lines allowing for the removal of Hydro poles between Altha Avenue and de L’Église Street
• Completion of Dupuis Street/le Carré de la Francophonie including pavers, decorative concrete inlays, trees, and pedestrian lights
• Commissioning and official opening of the Montreal Road cycle tracks from Vanier Parkway to Begin Street (remaining section will be opened spring/summer 2023)
• Installation of bus shelters and new bus stop locations
• Landscaping, including soil cell trees, shrubs, planters, street furniture and waste receptacles 
• Vanier Parkway asphalt overlay from Montreal Road to north of McArthur Avenue

Thank you to residents, businesses, and the travelling public for your patience over the 2022 construction season. Happy Holidays!  

2023 work

Looking forward to the 2023 construction season, the following remaining work is scheduled to be completed in summer 2023:

• Final asphalt lift from Marier Avenue to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Commissioning of the cycle track from Begin Street to St. Laurent Boulevard
• Completion of all remaining landscaping, street furniture, pavement marking and signage
• Construction of the south side Montreal Road cycle track from North River Road to Montgomery Street
• Modifications at the Montreal Road and North River Road intersection
• Construction of the multi-use path (MUP) proving a cycling connection from Mark Avenue to the Vanier Parkway
• Installation of the electronic Vanier community sign at the Montreal Road and Vanier Parkway intersection
• Implementation of traffic calming features along the north leg of North River Road

No detours will be required for the 2023 work, and two-way traffic will be maintained during construction.

Public information sessions

Public information session display boards and comments summary

• Public information session #2 (May 13, 2019)
• Public information session #1 (April 24, 2018)
• Presentation to Montreal Road BIA (November 19, 2019) [ 5.14 MB ]

Some examples of public engagement for the project have included:

• Public information sessions – first public information session was held in April 2018. The second public information session was held on May 13, 2019.
• Meetings with the Vanier Community Association and Quartier Vanier BIA to provide project updates, receive feedback and answer questions.
• Working group meetings with members from the Vanier Community Association and Quartier Vanier BIA with the purpose of obtaining input on specific issues involving significant design decisions.
• Project newsletter (monthly to date, may be more frequent as construction ramps up).
• Regular communication with individual business owners and residents affected by the proposed improvements.