Preliminary Design
In response to projected population and employment growth patterns in
Kanata and other settlements in the western part of the City of Ottawa, a
Preliminary Design Report (PDR) was prepared by the Ministry of
Transportation in 2002. This report presented a comprehensive operational
review of Highway 417 between Highway 7 and Highway 416 and focused
on determining the need and feasibility of providing additional capacity
(person and goods movement) and operational improvements
(infrastructure and traffic management) in this corridor.
The Preliminary Design alternatives were assessed and a Recommended
Plan was selected. A Transportation Environmental Study Report was
subsequently prepared to document the environmentally significant
aspects of the planning, design and construction of the proposed Highway
417 expansion project. Major issues identified included:
- Existing traffic operations on the highway within the study area are
characterized by significant congestion during peak periods.
- Population and employment within Kanata and to the west is a
major factor in the decreasing Level of Service (LOS) and will
continue to grow.
- Traffic demands (commuter, recreational and commercial trips) on
the highway are increasing and will continue to grow.
- The capacity of the existing Highway 417 cannot adequately
accommodate existing, nor future, traffic demand.
The Recommended Plan was designed to address these issues. Main
features of the Preliminary Design Recommended Plan included:
- Widening Highway 417 from Eagleson Road to Palladium Drive to
provide 2 additional lanes in each direction (1 lane in each direction
will be a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV lane);
- Widening Highway 417 from Palladium Drive to Highway 7 to provide
1 additional lane in each direction;
- Improvements and rehabilitations at various interchanges and
structures in the corridor to meet or exceed current standards and
address congestion.
Please refer to the Reports section of the web site to find out how you can
arrange to view the Preliminary Design Report: From Highway 7 to Highway
416, and the Transportation Environmental Study Report: Highway 417 from
Highway 7 to Highway 416.
This Detail Design project represents the second stage in the
implementation of the Preliminary Design Recommended Plan.
Project Location
Highway 417 is the major east-west freeway serving the Ottawa area. At
Ottawa’s western urban boundary, Highway 7 from Central Ontario and
Highway 17 from the Ottawa Valley join to form Highway 417. The freeway
passes through Kanata, before joining with Highway 416 and entering the
City of Ottawa’s inner urban area. The study area consists of the segment
of Highway 417, its interchanges, and associated facilities between the
Highway 7/17 junction and Eagleson Road. Click here to view project area
map.
Description of the Undertaking
This Detail Design project involves the expansion of Highway 417 from
Eagleson Road westerly to Highway 7, including the rehabilitation and
widening of existing structures.
The main components of the project include:
- Widening of Highway 417 from Eagleson Road to Palladium Drive into the median to provide 2 additional lanes in each direction (1 lane in each direction will be a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane);
- Widening of Highway 417 from Palladium Drive to Highway 7 into the median to provide 1 additional lane in each direction;
- Widening and rehabilitation of the existing Carp River bridges (eastbound and westbound) to provide 2 additional lanes per direction;
- Rehabilitation of the Eagleson Road Bridge and the Huntmar Road Bridge;
- Rehabilitation and minor widening of the Carp Road Bridge at the north abutment to create three full lanes on the bridge;
- Construction of related drainage works (culvert replacement, lining and extensions, storm water management facilities etc.);
- Temporary closures of ramps at the Eagleson Road and Castlefrank Road interchanges to allow for required rehabilitation and repair works.
- Highmast illumination and signage improvements;
- Installation of an Advanced Traffic Management System from Highway 7 to Highway 416; and
- Resurfacing/rehabilitation of existing lanes from Eagleson Road to Highway 7 and existing ramps at Terry Fox Drive, Palladium Drive and Carp Road.
The works associated with the expansion of Highway 417 are defined under
the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities
(2000) process as major improvements to existing provincial transportation
facilities. As such, the project will proceed under the requirements for a
Group “B” project and EA requirements will be documented in a Design
and Construction Report.
Further information about the EA requirements can be found by visiting the
EA Process section of the website.
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