My office has been in direct contact with many residents and has been included in numerous emails sent to stage2@ottawa.ca regarding the ongoing detours caused by the Richmond Road Revitalization project.
I understand this has been a challenging time for the community. The shift of motor vehicles from Richmond, an arterial road, to Byron, a local street, has had a significant impact on the area. Our priority is the safety and well-being of residents, and we have been working closely with Stage 2 staff, city staff, the Woodpark Community Association and the community to address issues such as cut-through traffic, motorist speeds in Woodpark, as well as the bottleneck at Woodroffe and Richmond.
Woodpark
Early discussions with Stage 2, city staff, and the community included exploring the idea of closing some streets to through traffic. However, Emergency Services raised concerns that fully closing streets off Byron Avenue would increase response times, making hard closures unfeasible. Similarly, feedback from Public Works after this season’s first snowstorm reinforced this conclusion, as snowplows require through-access, and dead-end streets create significant operational challenges.
To better understand traffic patterns and assess other options, my office requested data collection to track increases in traffic volumes and identify affected streets. KEV conducted traffic counts at the Ancaster, Compton, New Orchard, and Allison/Byron intersections during the week of November 20 (before the latest traffic configuration) and plans to collect post-traffic-flip data for comparison. Unfortunately, weather conditions have delayed further counts, but they are expected to resume early next week.
We’ve also requested speed data for Byron Avenue. So far, KEV has provided average speeds for AM and PM peak hours, which are lower due to high traffic volumes. We are now requesting off-peak hour data when speeds tend to be higher.
Currently, turns from northbound Richardson to eastbound Byron are permitted, while right turns from northbound New Orchard to eastbound Byron are prohibited to reduce conflicts with the pedestrian crossover.
We’ve been made aware that residents have moved barrels at the north end of New Orchard Avenue to fully block the street, rather than just the northbound lane as intended. While we understand the frustration, these actions disrupt snow clearing operations and could hinder emergency access. Stage 2 has asked us to remind residents not to move these barrels.
Snow Removal Concerns
My office has reached out to Roads Services to advocate for snow clearing prioritization in the Woodpark community. Snow and snowbanks, combined with the lack of sidewalks, force residents to walk further into the road, increasing the risk of conflicts with vehicles, particularly given the rise in traffic. Ensuring safe passage for families heading to parks, schools, and other destinations is a key priority.
We’ve also asked KEV’s snow maintenance crew to ensure they don’t block the Lockhart Avenue North roadway while clearing snow from the driveway extension at 911 Richmond Road.
I have also requested OPS to conduct enforcement for speeding and illegal turns.
Traffic Calming – Looking Ahead to Spring
As we move into spring, we will work with the Woodpark Community Association and City staff to explore traffic calming measures:
- New Orchard: We’ll consider options such as planter box chicanes to address concerns related to nearby parks and LRT construction.
- Ancaster: A speed board has been requested, and staff have submitted a request to install a stop sign on Joanne Avenue (facing Ancaster Avenue). Sight distance has been reviewed, and tree trimming will be scheduled as a precaution.
Further discussions will be ongoing with regard to other streets in the neighbourhood as well.
I deeply appreciate the patience and resilience of the community as we navigate these challenges together. Please know that your concerns are heard, and we remain committed to finding solutions that prioritize safety and improve the quality of life for all residents.
Woodroffe and Richmond
I’ve previously raised concerns with Stage 2 and City staff about queuing times and the light cycle duration at this intersection. I understand that extending the green light for southbound traffic affects other directions, including northbound, eastbound, and westbound traffic. This intersection is a well-known bottleneck, and we all recognize the challenges it presents.
Today, I followed up with Stage 2 staff to discuss the recent increase in traffic in the area. I specifically asked whether the lane closures on the Kichi Zibi Mikan (KZM) could be contributing to the situation. If drivers are diverting through Woodroffe instead of staying on the KZM, it may be part of the issue. There is some encouraging news: we expect relief when the KZM reopens to two lanes in each direction east of Dominion on December 20.
Here’s what Stage 2 staff shared on this matter:
- Traffic Impact Summary:
The Traffic Team has noted that reopening the KZM Parkway to two lanes per direction east of Dominion Station should reduce queuing during peak periods (e.g., west of Island Park). This is expected to decrease the number of vehicles turning right onto southbound Woodroffe to avoid KZM queues, which should help ease congestion on Woodroffe north of Richmond. - Signage Updates:
KEV is adding signage on the KZM Parkway to indicate that southbound Woodroffe north of Richmond is for local access only and for accessing Richmond Road businesses. This measure aims to reduce cut-through traffic and improve queuing conditions on Woodroffe.
Regarding the final configuration of this intersection, the Richmond Road Revitalization plan includes a left-turn lane (see the attached roll plan for design details). However, KEV has confirmed that current site constraints prevent its implementation at this time. The lane will be constructed once conditions allow.
Additionally, I brought up this intersection during a meeting with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) yesterday and requested enforcement in the area to help address the current challenges.
I understand how disruptive the surrounding construction has been to daily life, and I deeply appreciate the community’s patience, adaptability, and resilience in navigating these ongoing challenges. Please know your concerns are heard, and I remain committed to working with all stakeholders to identify improvements and solutions wherever possible.
I am optimistic that the reopening of KZM lanes will encourage drivers to stay on the Parkway rather than diverting through Woodroffe North, alleviating some of the congestion.
Thank you for your continued patience as we work through these challenges together.
