Biden visits Ottawa: Here are the road closures and traffic disruptions - Action News
Home WebMail Thursday, November 14, 2024, 12:49 AM | Calgary | 7.4°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Ottawa

Biden visits Ottawa: Here are the road closures and traffic disruptions

Some Ottawa roads will be fully closed and others will experience temporary closures during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit on Thursday and Friday.

U.S. president makes his 1st visit to Canada since taking office in 2021

Two police cars and two dump trucks block a street near a legislature.
Police vehicles and dump trucks control access to Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa before U.S. President Joe Biden's visit March 23, 2023. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Some Ottawa roads will be fully closed and others will experience temporary closures during U.S. President Joe Biden's visit on Thursday and Friday.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will arrivein Ottawa Thursday around 6:30 p.m. Thursdayand, during the two-day visit, Biden is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon.

Biden will also deliveranaddress to Parliament.

The City of Ottawa said it is working closely with the RCMP, Ottawa police and other security partners to maintain safety throughout the visit.

Biden's visit likely won't affect the Thursday morning commute, the city said, but "the exact details and timing of road closures and other impacts to city services may be communicated at the last minute" for security reasons.

Roads, bridges and bus routes affected

The following roads will be fully closed from 4 p.m.Thursday to 11 p.m. on Friday:

  • Wellington Streetbetween Metcalfe Street and Mackenzie Avenue.
  • Rideau Streetbetween Mackenzie and Dalhousie Street.
  • Elgin Streetbetween Queen and Wellington streets.
  • Mackenziebetween Murray and Rideau streets.
  • Colonel By Drivebetween Daly Avenue and Rideau.
  • Sussex Drivebetween Rideau and George streets.

The Macdonald-Cartier and Alexandra bridges will also see temporary closures in both directions for all traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians. The Portage bridgewill remain open.

The Chaudirebridge isclosed to vehicle traffic until the end of March for construction.

A map of road closures.
A number of road closures begin Thursday night and remain in place until Friday evening. (CBC)

People should avoid unnecessary travel around the affected locations during the visit, or plan possible alternate routes, the city said.

Some bus routes will also be affected, with all bus services detoured from Rideau Street to Mackenzie King Bridge on Thursday and Friday. Some buses and Para Transpo service will also experience delays because of road closures and detours. O-Train Line 1 service will operate as usual.

The city's online traffic map will have live updates on all closures, detours and traffic impacts.

A black car moves past a restaurant in a mall. There's a bit of motion blur.
The motorcade carrying U.S. President Joe Biden passes the Rideau Centre mall in Ottawa March 23, 2023. (Lars Hagberg/Reuters)

Temporary road closures may last several hours

Traffic disruptions will be expected on the following roads on Thursday and Friday, and temporary closures could last several hours.

The following roads will have temporary disruptions on Thursday:

  • Airport Parkwaybetween the Ottawa International Airport and Bronson Avenue.
  • Bronson Avenue between Findlay Avenue and Airport Parkway.
  • Colonel By Drivebetween Hog's Back Road and DalyAvenue.
  • Sussex Drivebetween George Street and Princess Avenue.
A map of the city of Ottawa with some roads highlighted.
Some roads will be fully closed during the two-day presidential visit, while other roads will experience temporary closures that could last several hours. (City of Ottawa)

The following roads will have temporary disruptions on Friday:

  • Wellington Street (westbound) between Kent and Metcalfe streets.
  • Wellington (eastbound)between Lyon and Metcalfestreets.
  • Metcalfe between Queen and Wellington streets.
  • O'Connor Street between Queen and Wellington.
  • Bank Streetbetween Queen and Wellington.
  • Sussex Drive between Rideau Street and Princess Avenue.
  • Princess Avenue between Sir George-tienne Parkway and Sussex Drive.
  • Sir George-tienne Parkwaybetween Bearbrook Road and Princess Avenue.
  • Aviation Parkwaynorth of Montreal Road.
  • Airport Parkway between the Ottawa International Airport and Bronson Avenue.
  • Bronson between Holmwood Avenue and Airport Parkway.
  • Colonel By Drivebetween Hog's Back Road and Daly Avenue.
  • Sussex Drivebetween George Street and Princess Avenue.