Ottawa light rail construction closing more of Transitway in December, January

Ongoing construction of Ottawa's light rail transit system will close part of the Transitway earlier than expected, city staff announced Wednesday.

"Phase 1" of Ottawa's $2.13 billion LRT project will run from Tunney's Pasture in the west to Blair Station in the east, with part of the line going underground through downtown.

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Part of the Transitwaybetween Blair and Hurdman stations closed in June for light rail work and the Transitway between Lees and Hurdman was expected to do the same in April 2016.

Wednesday, the city announced the Transitway and its pedestrian and cycling paths between Lees and Hurdmanwill close Dec. 20 because the Transitway's bridge over the Rideau River needs more work than originally planned.

The stations themselves will stay open butthe popular Route 95 will skip Hurdman altogether when this change comes into effect, replaced by a new Route 104 between Carleton University and Place d'Orleans.

Buses will also start running along Scott and Albert streets on Jan. 17, 2016 as the Transitway closes between Merton Street and Empress Avenue, with Bayview and LeBreton stations moving onto Albert.

This is a decision that has been vocally opposed by residents living along those streets, who say it will be a safety risk.

The city acknowledges this changewill lead to a further trip for people riding Transitway buses to Bluesfest in July.

OC Transpogeneral manager John Manconi said the Transitway closures in June didn't lead to a drop in ridership and he expects the same will be the case for the closures brought up on Wednesday.

The city also announced express routes to Orleans won't stop at Blair station starting Dec. 21 to make for a faster trip, the same reason it's creating the new Route 103, which mirrors Route 101 but won't stop at Hurdman in the morning and St. Laurent in the afternoon.

The next parts of the Transitway scheduled to close are the stretch from Laurierto Lees stations in April 2016 and the stretch between Merton Street and SmirleAvenue in June 2016.