Albion Road (Ottawa)
Encyclopedia
Albion Road is an important north-south road in the southern part of Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
. The street begins in the north as Albion Road North, at Walkley Road.
It runs only a short distance as a local road before being interrupted by the railway tracks and the Walkley O-Train garage. South of the rail lines Albion Road proper begins. At first a small street running through a residential area, it becomes briefly an arterial road at Hunt Club Road and Bank Street
before passing through the Blossom Park Community.
South of Lester, it continues to run south, into the rural areas of Ottawa, as a minor arterial road, and it also forms the eastern boundary of Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
. Albion Road continues through the rural part of Ottawa, ending at Mitch Owens Road
, just northwest of Greely, Ontario
.
buses, although only a rush-hour route travels through that intersection. Residents of Blossom Park between Lester and Bank Street cited safety concerns as Albion was a residential artery and that speeding and heavy traffic became issues in the neighbourhood.
Motorists have been detoured to Bank Street
to the east or the Airport Parkway
to the west via Lester. Resident from the rural south later expressed concerned about the detour citing also safety reasons along Lester as many motorists were doing U-Turns to skip the detours. Motorists also cited the detour as an inconvenience to access other areas of the city. A bypass around the community at Albion Road has been proposed that would realign Albion from Lester to Hunt Club Road just west of the Airport Parkway
but the project was not planned in the City's Transportation Master Plan other than widening Albion south of Lester which itself was planned to be widen to the Airport Parkway which itself is proposed to be widen to Heron Road
.
After a failed attempt in 2004 , Osgoode Ward Councillor Doug Thompson
, who was a strong opponent of the closure later re-lived the debate in 2007. In September, a community meeting of proponents to the reopening of the intersection was held that led to more controversy as it was abruptly ended when Gloucester-Southgate Ward Councilor Diane Deans
started her own debate within the meeting arguing for the closure of the road and had proposed several compromises including the extension of Earl Armstrong Road towards Bank Street. In October 2007, the Transportation Committee voted 5-3 against Thompson's motion but Council reversed the decision 12-10. A new vote requested by Councillor Deans failed on November 14, 2007 and the intersection was officially re-opened on November 28, 2007.
According to A-Channel, Deans also criticized Baseline Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli
for changing his vote in favour of the re-opening due to pressures from Mayor Larry O'Brien
's office citing possible impacts on a project in his ward, but Chiarelli replied that both sides were pressured for the vote. Council had also approved some measures to slow down traffic in Blossom Park and to improve pedestrian crossing with the addition of three-way stops between Lester and Bank.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The street begins in the north as Albion Road North, at Walkley Road.
It runs only a short distance as a local road before being interrupted by the railway tracks and the Walkley O-Train garage. South of the rail lines Albion Road proper begins. At first a small street running through a residential area, it becomes briefly an arterial road at Hunt Club Road and Bank Street
Bank Street (Ottawa)
Bank Street is the major north-south road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs south from Wellington Street in downtown Ottawa, south through the neighbourhoods of Centretown, The Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Alta Vista, Hunt Club, and then through the villages of Blossom Park, Leitrim, South...
before passing through the Blossom Park Community.
South of Lester, it continues to run south, into the rural areas of Ottawa, as a minor arterial road, and it also forms the eastern boundary of Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport or Macdonald-Cartier International Airport , in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is named after Sirs John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier...
. Albion Road continues through the rural part of Ottawa, ending at Mitch Owens Road
Mitch Owens Road
Mitch Owens Road runs along the border primarily of the former city of Gloucester and Osgoode Township. It was named after former Gloucester mayor Mitch Owens....
, just northwest of Greely, Ontario
Greely, Ontario
Greely is a quickly growing rural village in the southern end of Ottawa, formerly a part of the Township of Osgoode. It has been a part of the City of Ottawa since amalgamation in 2001. Greely is currently the largest rural village in terms of land area and the third largest in terms of population...
.
Lester Road Detour Controversy
In December 2002, City Council voted in favour of prohibiting motorist going northbound or southbound on Albion to continue past the intersection of Lester Road with the exception of emergency vehicles, bicycles and OC TranspoOC Transpo
OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...
buses, although only a rush-hour route travels through that intersection. Residents of Blossom Park between Lester and Bank Street cited safety concerns as Albion was a residential artery and that speeding and heavy traffic became issues in the neighbourhood.
Motorists have been detoured to Bank Street
Bank Street (Ottawa)
Bank Street is the major north-south road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs south from Wellington Street in downtown Ottawa, south through the neighbourhoods of Centretown, The Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Alta Vista, Hunt Club, and then through the villages of Blossom Park, Leitrim, South...
to the east or the Airport Parkway
Airport Parkway (Ottawa)
Airport Parkway is an expressway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs from the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to an interchange with Heron Road where it turns into Bronson Avenue.-Route description:...
to the west via Lester. Resident from the rural south later expressed concerned about the detour citing also safety reasons along Lester as many motorists were doing U-Turns to skip the detours. Motorists also cited the detour as an inconvenience to access other areas of the city. A bypass around the community at Albion Road has been proposed that would realign Albion from Lester to Hunt Club Road just west of the Airport Parkway
Airport Parkway (Ottawa)
Airport Parkway is an expressway in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs from the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport to an interchange with Heron Road where it turns into Bronson Avenue.-Route description:...
but the project was not planned in the City's Transportation Master Plan other than widening Albion south of Lester which itself was planned to be widen to the Airport Parkway which itself is proposed to be widen to Heron Road
Heron Road (Ottawa)
Heron Road is a major road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It runs from Walkley Road at an angle to the Rideau River, where it turns into Baseline Road. Heron is home to the Public Works and Government Services Canada headquarters, as well as the Canada Post headquarters and the Edward Drake Building...
.
After a failed attempt in 2004 , Osgoode Ward Councillor Doug Thompson
Doug Thompson
Doug Thompson is a councillor in the city of Ottawa for the Osgoode Ward. Thompson is also the former mayor of Osgoode Township prior to the amalgamation with the new City of Ottawa, and he is a Councillor with the amalgamated City of Ottawa Council for Osgoode Ward. Prior to being Mayor of...
, who was a strong opponent of the closure later re-lived the debate in 2007. In September, a community meeting of proponents to the reopening of the intersection was held that led to more controversy as it was abruptly ended when Gloucester-Southgate Ward Councilor Diane Deans
Diane Deans
Diane Elisabeth Deans is a member of Ottawa City Council, Canada, representing Gloucester-Southgate Ward in the city's south-east.A graduate of the University of Guelph she was active in the Canadian Federation of Students. Deans was first elected to Ottawa city council in 1994...
started her own debate within the meeting arguing for the closure of the road and had proposed several compromises including the extension of Earl Armstrong Road towards Bank Street. In October 2007, the Transportation Committee voted 5-3 against Thompson's motion but Council reversed the decision 12-10. A new vote requested by Councillor Deans failed on November 14, 2007 and the intersection was officially re-opened on November 28, 2007.
According to A-Channel, Deans also criticized Baseline Ward Councillor Rick Chiarelli
Rick Chiarelli
Richard "Rick" Chiarelli is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is currently an Ottawa City Councillor, and the second cousin of former Ottawa mayor Bob Chiarelli. He represents the College Ward covering part of Nepean and Ottawa's west end.-Early years:...
for changing his vote in favour of the re-opening due to pressures from Mayor Larry O'Brien
Larry O'Brien (Canadian politician)
Lawrence Robert O'Brien , was the 58th mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is also a current director of Calian Technologies Ltd. and its former CEO and chairman....
's office citing possible impacts on a project in his ward, but Chiarelli replied that both sides were pressured for the vote. Council had also approved some measures to slow down traffic in Blossom Park and to improve pedestrian crossing with the addition of three-way stops between Lester and Bank.