Vehicle control zone now in place ahead of Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa

By CityNews Ottawa

A motor vehicle control zone is now in effect in downtown Ottawa in anticipation of any potential vehicle protests over the Canada Day weekend.

The control zone stretches from Booth Street in the west, Laurier Avenue to the south and Sussex Drive/Colonel By Drive in the east. 

The roads are not closed. Residential and business traffic, as well as pedestrians, cyclists and public transit are permitted to enter and exit the control zone.
Motor vehicles taking part in any form of demonstration, event, protest or rally will not be permitted.

Barricades, heavy equipment or police officers and vehicles will be at various access points surrounding the control zone, to filter lawful traffic onto those streets.
There is no on-street parking or stopping as indicated by posted signage on roads in the control zone.

Parking within the control zone is only available in parking lots and garages. These may be busy, so plan your travel times appropriately. Motorists failing to observe temporary no-stopping signage may be ticketed and towed. Expect traffic delays in the control zone and on surrounding roads.

The City of Ottawa says the plan is to remove the control zone at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 4, but that could be delayed if conditions warrant extending it. 

Temporary parking signage will remain in effect until removed by the City.

Downtown road closures on July 1:

Some roads within the control zone will be closed to all traffic from 12:01 a.m. on July 1 until 2 a.m. on July 2. There are also some pedestrian and bicycle restrictions.

These controls are to facilitate the Canada's Capital Region – Canada Day 2022 event at LeBreton Flats Park and Place des Festivals Zibi, hosted by Canadian Heritage.

All changes to road access are on the Canadian Heritage website.

Impacts outside of downtown on July 1:

Some of the special events planned across the city on Canada Day impact nearby roads, with closures and parking restrictions, as listed below.

For the most current road conditions, visit the the City of Ottawa's interactive traffic map and select both the 'events' and 'incidents' fields.

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