Byron one-way Golden to Redwood starting tomorrow

Good afternoon, Kitchissippi.

As I noted in my most recent newsletter to residents, the City will be turning Byron into a one-way eastbound between Golden and Redwood with parking removed in order to create the pedestrian space we need during the pandemic and especially to support the Ottawa Farmer’s Market for the summer. The lane on the north side will be taken up by that pedestrian space, delineated with flexi-posts. That work, we understand, should start tomorrow morning.

In order to minimize the amount of traffic that was flowing up Golden last year, there will be a local-traffic-only barricade to discourage cars from using the street as a cut-through, and, further, we will be putting in place a left-hand-turn prohibition from westbound Byron to southbound Golden. In addition, motorists will be warned at Churchill and then again at Roosevelt of the detour ahead and encouraged to use Richmond as the alternative.

At Fraser, we will have the same local-traffic-only barricade to discourage southbound traffic onto Fraser.

With one direction of travel fully maintained, I expect we will see a proportionate reduction in the amount of cut-through compared to last year, and the measures the City is putting in place to further reduce that should be effective. Both Tom in my office and I will keep a careful eye on it for the first while to see whether tweaks need to be implemented to deal with any unintended consequences.

Enjoy the weather, Kitchissippi!