Notice of Submission of Transportation Environmental Study Report

The Project

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO), in partnership with Totten Sims Hubicki (TSH) Associates Limited and in consultation with the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission, has completed a Preliminary Design Study and Class Environmental Assessment of the Ottawa Queensway (Highway 417) from Highway 416 easterly to Anderson Road.

The project evaluated the short and longer term needs of this section of the Queensway in terms of potential operational improvements and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in order to improve safety, enhance mobility and reduce congestion. The objectives were to evaluate opportunities to optimize the use of the existing facility, while providing for the efficient movement of people and goods and reducing gridlock.

Three rounds of Public Involvement Centres (PICs) were held at key points in the study to provide the public with information regarding the study and to receive public input. The PICs were held in January 2003, June 2004 and June 2005.

The Recommended Plan for the Queensway includes the following features:

• Widen to 4 basic lanes per direction from Highway 416 to Carling Avenue
• No changes to basic lanes from Carling Avenue to Metcalfe Street
• Widen to 4 basic lanes per direction from Metcalfe Street to Ottawa Road 174
• Widen to 3 basic lanes per direction from Ottawa Road 174 to east of Walkley Road
• Modifications to the following interchanges:
  • Richmond Road
  • Bronson Avenue Eastbound
  • Greenbank Road
  • Lyon Street
  • Woodroffe Avenue
  • Nicholas Street
  • Carling Avenue
  • St. Laurent Boulevard
  • Parkdale Avenue
• Rehabilitate pavement, drainage systems, lighting, and other infrastructure as required
• Enhance and expand the existing Advance Traffic Management System
• Upgrade noise barriers to current standards
• Replace/enhance landscaping

The Process

The project followed the approved environmental planning process for Group "B" projects under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000). A Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) has been completed and will be available on January 29, 2007, for a 30-day public review period. The TESR is available for review at the following locations or on the project website

You are encouraged to contact the MTO or TSH if you have questions or concerns about this project. If, after consulting with MTO or TSH, you have serious unresolved concerns, you have the right to request the Minister of the Environment (135 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1P5) to "bump-up" (i.e. make a Part II Order for) this project. A Part II Order may lead to preparation of an individual environmental assessment. The Minister of the Environment must receive your "bump-up" request by Friday, March 2, 2007. A copy of the request should also be forwarded to the MTO and TSH at the addresses below. If there are no outstanding concerns after Friday, March 2, 2007, the project will be considered to have met the requirements of the Class EA.

Mr. Brian Ruck, P.Eng. C.V.S. or
Consultant Project Manager
TSH engineers architects planners
300 Water Street
Whitby, Ontario L1N 9J2
Phone: 1-800-668-1983 or 905-668-4021 Ext. 2250
Fax: 905-665-4867
E-mail: bruck@tsh.ca

Mr. David Lindensmith, P.Eng.
Senior Project Engineer
Planning Design Section
Eastern Region
Ontario Ministry of Transportation
1355 John Counter Boulevard
Kingston, ON K7L 5A3
Phone: 1-800-267-0295 or 613-540-5130
Fax: 613-540-5106
E-mail: Dave.Lindensmith@ontario.ca