Northern tip of Bank Street closed southbound until September

People driving away from Ottawa's Parliamentary precinct won't be able to take Bank Street anymore, as it's now closed southbound from Wellington Street to Albert Street until Sept. 5.

Crews have been working to re-do Queen Street before the newParliament and Lyon LRT stations open and the construction has grown to include itsintersection with Bank Street.

One lane of northbound traffic will stay open, according to the City of Ottawa.

Southbound OC Transpo buses driving routes 1, 2 and 7 will now leave Wellington Street at O'Connor Street and take Albert to get back to Bank.

In April, Queen Street became aone-way street heading east toward the ByWard Market from Bay Street to Metcalfe Street for light rail work.

Sir JAM Parkway, Queen Elizabeth Driveway projects

There are two other new, shorter-term construction projects affecting downtown Ottawa traffic.

Construction workers are digging a big pit at the intersection of Booth Street and the Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway to upgrade a storm sewer.

That means the parkway will be closed from Preston Street to Booth Street, eastbound Wellington Street will be closed from Booth Street to the Portage Bridge, and northbound Preston Street from the parkway to Albert Street from 7 a.m. on Saturdays to 5 p.m. on Sundays on the weekends of June 4, 11 and 18.

The pit will be backfilled at the end of the first two weekends, and paved over at the end of the third weekend, according to the City of Ottawa.

OC Transpo's Route 8 bus to Gatineau won't be taking Preston Street to the Chaudire Bridge during construction. Instead, it will loop back around on Albert to take Bay Street and the Parkway to the bridge.

This means you'll have to catch the bus at LeBreton Station 1A, because 3A won't be accessible.

The Queen Elizabeth Driveway on the west side of the Rideau Canal will be closed from Laurier Avenue to WaverleyStreet this coming Monday to Friday, June 6 to 10.

Motorists are asked to take Catherine Street and Elgin Street to get around it.