Highway 417 Bridge Replacements and Operational Improvements

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained WSP to complete the Detail Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for the replacement of 10 bridges (5 sites) on Highway 417 between Preston Street and Percy Street, as well as operational improvements on Highway 417 from Island Park Drive to Kent Street Overpass, in the City of Ottawa (GWP 4173-15-00). The project involves the following components:

• Replacement of the Preston Street Overpass, Rochester Street Overpass, Booth Street Overpass, Bronson Avenue Overpass and Percy Street Overpass structures using rapid replacement construction techniques;
• Preparation of temporary enclosed construction staging areas for the bridge replacement activities, including, construction of the new bridge structures;
• Construction operations on City streets to provide the rapid replacement equipment with access from the construction staging areas to the bridge sites;
• Demolition of 458 Catherine Street (former A1 Mini Storage facility) and construction of an earth embankment across the limits of the existing retaining wall at this site;
• Replacement of existing noise barriers on Highway 417 at the following locations:
  • On the north side of the highway, from Island Park Drive to east of Parkdale Avenue;
  • On the north side of the highway, from the Rochester westbound on-ramp, east to Bronson Avenue;
  • On the south side of the highway, from Island Park Drive to west of the CPR/O-Train Overpass;
• Implementation of Queensway Context Sensitive Design recommendations related to structural design elements, noise barrier design, fencing, and landscaping, where applicable;
• Construction of related works including: tall wall median concrete barrier and drainage improvements from the CPR/O-Train Overpass to the Kent Street Overpass; retaining walls; illumination; overhead and ground-mounted signage; utility relocations; and roadside protection, as required; and
• Coordination of construction activities with the following two MTO Detail Design and Class EA studies:
• WP 4089-07-01 Bronson Avenue Interchange Improvements; and
• GWP 4057-12-00 New Noise Barrier Retrofits.

Traffic management and pedestrian/cyclist detours for construction staging has been coordinated with the City of Ottawa.

This project is following the approved environmental planning process for Group 'B' undertakings under the Ministry of Transportation's Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000), with the opportunity for public input throughout the project.

​If you have questions or comments, or wish to be added to the project mailing list, please visit the Contact Us section of this website.

Project Updates

• November 12, 2020: The Design and Construction Report is now available for review, here. 
• Notices announcing Submission of the Design and Construction Report for public review were published in the Ottawa Citizen on November 12, 2020 and Le Droit on November 14, 2020.
• February 11, 2020: Online Public Information Centre materials are available for review on the project website here. Comments on project plans can be submitted through the website here.
• Notices announcing the online Public Information Centre were published in the Ottawa Citizen and Le Droit on February 11, 2020. 
• September 10, 2018: Please note the project schedule has been updated. Please see the Schedule page for the revised dates. 
• Preston Street Overpass and Percy Street Overpass will now undergo rapid replacement instead of rehabilitation.
• Notices announcing Study Commencement were published in the Ottawa Citizen, Centretown News, and Le Droit on January 26, 2017.