Avoid Highway 417, downtown roads until Monday morning

A stretch of Highway 417 through central Ottawawas closed this weekendstarting at 8 p.m. Thursday until Monday morning to replace the Bronson Avenue overpass.

Eastbound lanesclosed atCarling Avenue and drivers couldn't return until Metcalfe Street. Westbound lanes closedatMetcalfeStreet and reopenedat theRochester Street ramp.

Lane reductions and ramp closures began at 7 p.m. Thursday, according tothe Ministry of Transportation.

The highway, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway, wasscheduled to reopen Monday at 6 a.m. and was open by that time.

There was alivestream of the bridge replacement.

WATCH LIVE | The Bronson Avenue highway overpass gets replaced:

Detours

The suggested eastbound detour usedCarlingAvenue to turn left onBronson Avenue and thenright to continue along Imperial Avenue, Chamberlain Avenue and Isabella Street.

The detour for westbound traffic was shorter, sticking straight toCatherine and Raymondstreetsto getto the Rochester on ramp.

Drivers could always go further north or south if it works better for where they're starting or ending, or make the switch to transit, cycling, walking or another mode of travel to clear road space.

Plan ahead and as always, pay attention to local signs and rules. CBCRadio'sOttawa MorningandAll In A Dayhave regular, live traffic updates on weekdays.

The cityremindedoccasional OC Transpo riders it has a two-for-one day pass on Saturdays and Sundays and kids 12 and under ride for free.

A similar project last summer tied upmajor roadsbetween the Ottawa River and Hunt Club Road and between Woodroffe Avenue and Riverside Drive.

The National Capital Commission openedall of theQueen Elizabeth Driveway back up to vehicles Friday, Saturday and Sunday, interrupting its active use program.It did not changea similar weekend program on its two parkways along the Ottawa River.

Bronson closed for weeks

Bronson Avenue itself is closed to all traffic betweenCatherine Street and Imperial Avenue until the morning of July 27. Southbound Bronson closes one block earlier at Arlington Avenue while the highway is closed.

The contractors suggest Percy Street to the east as a pedestrian and cyclist detour and Booth or Bank streets for drivers.

The work follows similar bridge replacement projects along the 417such as the overpasses above Rochester and Booth streets last year.

Percy and Preston street overpassesare also up for replacement. The province's goal to finish this round of bridge replacements is 2025.