Stage 2 of Ottawa’s light rail transit (LRT) O-Train system is underway in the west end, which forces a partial closure of one of the city’s most-used throughways.
As a part of the new section of the LRT, the city needs to close two kilometres of Richmond Road near Byron Avenue to reconfigure it for the O-Train. The work is set to being this weekend on July 20 and last until 2027.
Richmond Road will be closed between McEwen Avenue and Cleary Avenue until then. The city said in a release that traffic will be detoured onto Byron Avenue. Pedestrians and cyclists will also have detours in the area.
Bus stop locations on Richmond Road will also be moved, with more information at octranspo.com.
On top of the road reconfiguration, Byron Linear Park will get a full facelift. The small park will have new pathways, green spaces, benches and more.
The city said the revitalization will transform “the area into a vibrant community hub.”
Underground, the municipality is also replacing water and sewer mains and putting the finishing touches on the tunnel underneath Byron Linear Park for the LRT. Street lightening, traffic signals, signage, tree planting and landscaping will all be done in the next three years.
There will also be improvements to Richmond Road’s alignment.
“These improvements are designed to enhance connectivity and safety for pedestrians and cyclists within the area,” the press release reads.