NCC rolls out plan for Queen Elizabeth Driveway while Bank Street Bridge lanes close

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is ready to close Queen Elizabeth Driveway to motor vehicles to help residents with physical distancing, and depending how the one-week pilot goes, the road could be closed for some time.

The closure starts on Saturday, while two outer curb lanes on the Bank Street Bridge will be made pedestrian-only on Friday.

The NCC says it made the decision to close one of its main downtown thoroughfares daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., from Saturday, April 18, to Sunday, April 26, after consultation and coordination with Ottawa Public Health, as well as City of Ottawa traffic and emergency management staff. 

Emergency vehicles will still be allowed on Queen Elizabeth Driveway.

Because of the directive for residents to avoid all non-essential travel, The NCC is asking that only local residents living in adjacent neighbourhoods access the Queen Elizabeth Driveway during this pilot project. Other members of the public should not drive to the area to walk or bike on the road.

To ensure the safety of local residents accessing the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, barricades and signage will be in place between Laurier Avenue and Fifth Avenue. Access for motorists to cross Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Pretoria Bridge and enter Pretoria Avenue will be maintained.

The NCC asks that all users help ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment and abide by basic safety rules, such as limiting bike speeds to a maximum of 20 km/hr, keeping to the right and passing on the left, ringing a bell or calling out when passing, and staying alert. The roadway should be used in a fashion similar to the NCC’s multi-use pathways, with the yellow traffic line delineating northbound versus southbound travel.

Based on the outcomes of this pilot project, including the public’s compliance with the closure protocols around usage and physical distancing directives, the NCC says a decision to continue or end the road closure will then be made.