City Can’t Get Press Releases Out On Time

Do things move slowly at Ottawa City Hall? Well sometimes.

Below you see a City of Ottawa press release telling of future dates of closures and construction in the Highway 417 – Pinecrest Road interchange area. The document was released at 9:34 a.m. on Thursday, July 16.

Just one problem. Many of the events have already occurred or already started. Kind of late, useless information in many cases.

Interesting to discover how many people work in city media relations and why this release was so late. Mayor candidate Jeff Leiper says he wants to do something about media relations if he is elected. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe … what will you be doing about this? The Pinecrest and area construction has already cost you much political support due to 25-minute traffic delays. This release compounds it and reads like an excuse. The rain caused us to be late. And did the dog eat your homework?

The city is so slow it can’t even get its press releases out on time.

Ken Gray

The city release is below:

Due to the extreme weather event on July 1, some of the dates for O-Train expansion construction have shifted. The work has varying traffic impacts for Highway 417 ramps and interchanges, including Pinecrest Road, Holly Acres Road and Moodie Drive.

We know these closures may affect your daily commute. Here are the updated dates and information to help you plan your routes.

Moodie Drive

Construction work will require the following lane and ramp closures on Moodie Drive:

• The southbound Moodie on?ramp to Highway 417 eastbound will be closed for approximately six weeks, starting July 8.
• Eastbound Corkstown Road will be closed between Moodie Drive and Abbott Private until July 31.
  • Westbound Corkstown Road between Abbott Private and Moodie Drive will be closed on Monday, July 20 between 9:30 am and 3 pm.
  • Westbound Corkstown Road between Abbott Private and Moodie Drive will be closed daily from Wednesday, July 22 until Friday, July 24 between 9:30 am and 3 pm.
  • Westbound Corkstown Road between Abbott Private and Moodie Drive will be closed on the weekend of July 25 and 26 daily from 7 am until 5 pm.
• The westbound Highway 417 off-ramp at Moodie will be reduced to one lane for eight weeks, starting July 6.

Construction will also result in the following off-peak and overnight reductions and closures:

• The westbound off-and-on-ramps to and from Moodie Drive and Highway 417 will see overnight closures until mid-July.
  • The Highway 417 westbound on-ramp from southbound Moodie Drive will be closed overnight on Monday, July 20 at 11 pm until Tuesday, July 21 at 5 am.
  • The Highway 417 westbound on-ramp from northbound Moodie Drive will be closed overnight on Tuesday, July 21 at 11 pm until Wednesday, July 22 at
    5 am.

Pinecrest Road

Construction work at Pinecrest Road will have the following impacts:

• Long?term lane reductions will be in place on Pinecrest Road and Queensview Drive beginning July 7.
• Overnight work on July 15 will result in the following closures:
• Highway 417 westbound slow lane and Highway 417 westbound on-ramp from northbound Pinecrest/Greenbank Road will be closed overnight on Wednesday,
  July 15 at 11 pm until Thursday, July 16 at 5 am.
• Highway 417 Eastbound slow lane and Highway 417 eastbound on-ramp from southbound Pinecrest/Greenbank Road will be closed overnight on Wednesday, July 15 at 11 pm until Thursday, July 16 at 5 am.
• Northbound Pinecrest/Greenbank on-ramp to westbound Highway 417 will be closed overnight on Tuesday, July 21 at 11 pm until Wednesday, July 22 at 5 am.
• Southbound Pinecrest/Greenbank on-ramp to westbound Highway 417 will be closed overnight on Tuesday, July 21 at 11 pm until Wednesday, July 22 at 5 am.

Holly Acres Road

Construction work will have the following lane and ramp closures on Holly Acres Road:

• Starting July 2, there will be long-term a single?lane closure on northbound Holly Acres and a left?turn lane reduction from the Highway 416/417 off?ramp.
• A full weekend closure is planned for Saturday, July 18 until Sunday, July 19 for southbound Holly Acres Road between Aero Drive and 416/417 eastbound off-ramp, along with westbound on-ramp closure to Highway 417.

Anticipated Impacts

Motorists should follow all signed detour routes and adhere to posted speed limits.

Stay informed

For ongoing updates about Stage 2 O-Train expansion work, please visit octranspo.com.

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