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.

• Special parking restrictions will be in effect in the downtown core between Friday, January 27 and Sunday, January 29. Motorists should anticipate delays. Visit ottawa.ca for more information.
• The Innes Road and Orient Park Drive intersection will have lane reductions in both directions from Wednesday, February 1 to Friday, February 3 for pump station power supply upgrades. Pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained. Please watch for flagging and signage. 
• Queen Elizabeth Drive, from Laurier to Fifth avenues, will close in both directions on the following dates for Winterlude:
  • 9 am on Saturday, February 4 to 6 pm on Sunday, February 5
  • 9 am on Saturday, February 11 to 6 pm on Sunday, February 12
  • 9 am on Saturday, February 18 to 6 pm on Sunday, February 19
  • 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, February 20
• Highway 174 – The following Highway 174 ramps and lanes will be closed for Stage 2 LRT roadwork:     
  • The westbound on-ramp from northbound Montreal Road will close nightly between 10 pm and 5:30 am from Thursday, January 26 until Saturday, January 28.
  • The eastbound off-ramp to Champlain Street from 9 pm Friday, February 3 until 5:30 am Monday, February 6.
• Northbound Orléans Boulevard at the Highway 174 interchange between 9:30 am and 3 pm on January 27. 
• Highway 417 – The following Highway 417 ramps and lanes will be closed for Stage 2 LRT roadwork:
  • The westbound Highway 417 off-ramp to Pinecrest Road is closed until fall 2023.
• Byron Avenue will have various blocks between Richardson Avenue and Compton Avenue closed daily from 7 am to 5 pm, and between Woodroffe Avenue and Sherbourne Road daily from 7 am to 5 pm until spring 2023.
• Westbound Richmond Road between New Orchard Avenue and McEwen Avenue is closed until the end of 2023.
• Redwood Avenue is closed between Byron Avenue and Richmond Road until Friday, January 20.
• Westbound Corkstown Road is closed between March Road and Moodie Drive until Friday, February 3.
• Eastbound Corkstown Road is closed between March Road and Moodie Drive from 10 pm on Friday, February 3 to 5 am on Monday, February 6.
• Cleary Avenue at Richmond Road is closed and shifted west until the end of 2024.

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.

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 will no longer be in effect as of Monday, May 9, 2022.

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 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 will be subject to fines.

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

Truck Route List