Robertson Road
Encyclopedia
Robertson Road is a road
in Ottawa's
west end. It runs approximately 4.5 km (2.8 mi) west from the junction of Richmond Road
in Bells Corners where Richmond Road makes a 90° turn southward, to Eagleson Road
in Kanata
, where it becomes Hazeldean Road
west of the intersection. It is a four-lane route through much of the commercial strip in Bells Corners where the speed limit is 60 km/h (37.3 mph), but west of the old CP Rail
trestle (now the Trans Canada Trail
) it passes through the Greenbelt
and the speed limit increases to 80 km/h (49.7 mph). This stretch has been identified as a high deer collision corridor. Numerous attempts have been made to reduce the risk, including reflective markers along the shoulder on each side of the road. Most recently, these have been removed and the entire stretch is now lighted.
.
Originally built as the concession road leading west to the Hazeldean neighbourhood in neighbouring Goulbourn Township
, the road was named Arnprior Road because from there it headed northwest to the town of Arnprior
. It was known colloquially as "Whiskey Road" for the number of taverns along its route. It later became part of Highway 7
and Highway 15 before the western leg of Highway 417 was completed, after which it was known for a time as "Old Highway 7 & 15". The Robertson Road name was established on September 28, 1983 by a Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
(RMOC) by-law naming the portion of Highway 7 and 15, west of the Richmond Road turnoff at Bells Corners to Eagleson Road.
city council voted to rename Robertson Road and a portion of Richmond Road
after the late Lloyd Francis
, a wealthy land speculator, Liberal
MP
and Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
. The approved proposal would have changed the names of both roads through Bells Corners so that the commercial area would bear a single name for its entire length, despite opposition from local residents and businesses. The Robertson name was to have been preserved as the name of a park, but despite this the protests continued.
Lloyd Francis Boulevard was to run east-west from the intersection of Richmond and Baseline Roads
to the intersection of Eagleson and Hazeldean Roads in the community of Kanata
. Richmond Road would then continue from its original intersection with Robertson Road to the Village of Richmond
. Lloyd Francis together with Donald Sim were land speculators who had assembled a vast tract of land in Bells Corners. In 1958, they brought in developer Bill Teron to build an entire subdivision. By 1960, four hundred families lived in Teron's bungalows; another four hundred homes were built in 1961. However, Lloyd Francis was never a resident of the area.
Because of the controversy, heritage advocates called on the city to overhaul its naming policy. However, on July 13 a new motion was passed rescinding the original change and renaming Richmond Road from Baseline Road to the Richmond Road intersection (east of Moodie Drive) as Robertson Road instead. This accomplished the original goal of a single name through Bells Corners without the renaming of the original Robertson Road. However, properties on the original Robertson Road will still be renumbered at considerable inconvenience and expense to the residents and businesses located on it.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in Ottawa's
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...
west end. It runs approximately 4.5 km (2.8 mi) west from the junction of Richmond Road
Richmond Road (Ottawa)
Richmond Road is a major road in Eastern Ontario, Canada.Richmond Road begins as a western continuation of Wellington Street West in Ottawa, beyond the intersection at Island Park Drive, a division point moved west a few blocks from Western Avenue, the historical township boundary, in 2005. It...
in Bells Corners where Richmond Road makes a 90° turn southward, to Eagleson Road
Eagleson Road (Ottawa)
Eagleson Road is a northwest-southeast road in Ottawa's west end in Kanata. It starts at Highway 417 and ends at Brophy Road south of Richmond. North of Highway 417 it becomes March Road...
in Kanata
Kanata
Kanata is an aboriginal word meaning "village" or "settlement."- Name of Canada :Until the mid-20th century, the Mohawk word "kanata" was thought to have been the origin of Canada's name...
, where it becomes Hazeldean Road
Hazeldean Road (Ottawa)
Hazeldean Road is a major road in Ottawa's west end. This road runs between the junction of Highway 7 west of Stittsville and Eagleson Road in Kanata, where it becomes Robertson Road east of the intersection and proceeds towards Bells Corners in the former city of Nepean, Ontario as a four-lane...
west of the intersection. It is a four-lane route through much of the commercial strip in Bells Corners where the speed limit is 60 km/h (37.3 mph), but west of the old CP Rail
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
trestle (now the Trans Canada Trail
Trans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail is a proposed corridor in Canada. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world...
) it passes through the Greenbelt
Greenbelt (Ottawa)
The Greenbelt is a crescent of land within the present-day boundaries of the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in which real estate development is strictly controlled. It begins at Shirleys Bay in the west and extends to Green's Creek in the east...
and the speed limit increases to 80 km/h (49.7 mph). This stretch has been identified as a high deer collision corridor. Numerous attempts have been made to reduce the risk, including reflective markers along the shoulder on each side of the road. Most recently, these have been removed and the entire stretch is now lighted.
History
Robertson Road was named for John Robertson (1797-1884), an owner of a general store in Bells Corners and "Surveyor of Roads" for the Township of NepeanNepean Township, Ontario
Nepean Township is a historical township in Eastern Ontario, Canada.Originally known as Township D, it was established in 1792. In 1800, it became part of Carleton County and was incorporated as a township in 1850. The first settler in the township was Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, who settled in...
.
Originally built as the concession road leading west to the Hazeldean neighbourhood in neighbouring Goulbourn Township
Goulbourn Township, Ontario
Goulbourn Township, Ontario was formed in 1818, roughly 20 km southwest of downtown Ottawa, with the first major settlement occurring in Richmond. Other communities in the township include Stittsville, Munster, and Ashton. Stittsville is the largest community in the township, owing in part to its...
, the road was named Arnprior Road because from there it headed northwest to the town of Arnprior
Arnprior
Arnprior is a town in Renfrew County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
. It was known colloquially as "Whiskey Road" for the number of taverns along its route. It later became part of Highway 7
Ontario Highway 7
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
and Highway 15 before the western leg of Highway 417 was completed, after which it was known for a time as "Old Highway 7 & 15". The Robertson Road name was established on September 28, 1983 by a Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton
The Regional Municipality of Ottawa–Carleton was a regional government area and census division in Ontario, Canada which existed from 1969 until 2001...
(RMOC) by-law naming the portion of Highway 7 and 15, west of the Richmond Road turnoff at Bells Corners to Eagleson Road.
Future
On 13 April 2011, the OttawaOttawa
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...
city council voted to rename Robertson Road and a portion of Richmond Road
Richmond Road (Ottawa)
Richmond Road is a major road in Eastern Ontario, Canada.Richmond Road begins as a western continuation of Wellington Street West in Ottawa, beyond the intersection at Island Park Drive, a division point moved west a few blocks from Western Avenue, the historical township boundary, in 2005. It...
after the late Lloyd Francis
Cyril Lloyd Francis
Cyril Lloyd Francis, PC was a Canadian politician and one time Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons...
, a wealthy land speculator, Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
. The approved proposal would have changed the names of both roads through Bells Corners so that the commercial area would bear a single name for its entire length, despite opposition from local residents and businesses. The Robertson name was to have been preserved as the name of a park, but despite this the protests continued.
Lloyd Francis Boulevard was to run east-west from the intersection of Richmond and Baseline Roads
Baseline Road (Ottawa)
Baseline Road is a road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Baseline runs from Richmond Road east in a straight line until it ends at the Heron Road Bridge over the Rideau River and Rideau Canal when it becomes Heron Road. Before the 2001 City of Ottawa amalgamation, Baseline formed the border of the city...
to the intersection of Eagleson and Hazeldean Roads in the community of Kanata
Kanata, Ontario
Situated in the Ottawa Valley, Kanata is located about west-southwest of Downtown Ottawa along Highway 417 at a latitude of 45°18' North and a longitude of 75°55' West, with an area of . Its northern end is just to the west of the Ottawa River....
. Richmond Road would then continue from its original intersection with Robertson Road to the Village of Richmond
Richmond, Ontario
Richmond is a Canadian village. Founded in 1818, it spans the Jock River, a tributary of the Rideau River. Like many communities in eastern Ontario, Richmond houses several unique populations. Some residents have historic and economic roots in the immediate area. Richmond operates as a small core...
. Lloyd Francis together with Donald Sim were land speculators who had assembled a vast tract of land in Bells Corners. In 1958, they brought in developer Bill Teron to build an entire subdivision. By 1960, four hundred families lived in Teron's bungalows; another four hundred homes were built in 1961. However, Lloyd Francis was never a resident of the area.
Because of the controversy, heritage advocates called on the city to overhaul its naming policy. However, on July 13 a new motion was passed rescinding the original change and renaming Richmond Road from Baseline Road to the Richmond Road intersection (east of Moodie Drive) as Robertson Road instead. This accomplished the original goal of a single name through Bells Corners without the renaming of the original Robertson Road. However, properties on the original Robertson Road will still be renumbered at considerable inconvenience and expense to the residents and businesses located on it.