Portion of Bank Street closing July 2 for several months

There will be traffic impacts to Ottawa’s southern communities as a portion of Bank Street is set to close July 2 and will last several months.

From south of Shuttleworth Drive to south of Miikana/Blais Road, Bank Street will be closed to drivers starting this weekend until December 20.

The road is a main artery for commuters in Greely and Metcalfe. Detours will be in place via Albion Road and Hawthorne Avenue.

The city said in a press release, the detours will remain for the duration of the closure.

According to the City of Ottawa, there will be traffic calming measures on Findlay Creek Drive, Kelly Farm Drive, Miikana Road and Dun Skipper Drive for rerouted traffic.

Findlay Creek businesses are set to remain open and accessible during the closure of Bank Street.

The city is encouraging residents to shop local and support the Findlay Creek Bank Street and area businesses while construction is taking place.

The closure is related to work that will facilitate the Bank Street widening and reconstruction “a multi-year project that will see the two-kilometres stretch of Bank Street, from south of Leitrim Road to south of Blais Road, widened from two lanes to four.”

According to Ottawa, major infrastructure construction will take place, with work including the replacement of the existing local sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and watermain.

Additionally, construction will include approximately four kilometres of sidewalks, cycle tracks and grass boulevards, as well as a raised median and modifications to signalized intersections, noted the city.