Province to consider closing Highway 417 on-ramp at Carling

Ottawanswill get their first chance later todayto weigh inon a proposal by the province to permanently close a Highway 417 on-ramp.

The Ministry of Transportation is proposing to shutterthe single-laneramp that connectsCarling Avenuewith the eastboundQueensway, just west of the Westgate Shopping Centre.

• Westgate Shopping Centre's future up for discussion
• Councillor Catherine McKenney says 417 expansion will undermine LRT

According to the notice of the study's commencement, the ministry is considering closing the ramp"to address operational and safety issues" nearby.

Today's public meeting is expected to run from 4 to8 p.m. at Kitchissippi United Church.

'Serious impact' on neighbourhoods

Closing the ramp would have a "serious impact" on traffic along Parkdale Avenue, according to a statement posted on the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association's website.

"For those travelling westbound on Carling, their only other choice would be a convoluted path via the already congested Carling/Kirkwood intersection," the association said.

"We expect many drivers will choose Parkdale Avenue, a street that simply cannot handle any more traffic."

The Carlington Community Association has similar concernsand worries motorists will be tempted to drive through the neighbourhood to get onto Kirkwood Avenue, said Robert Brinker, chair of the association's development committee,on CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning Thursday.

According to 2011 datathe ramp is used by about3,700 vehiclesper day, Brinker saidabout half the traffic thatthe Kirkwood Avenue on-ramp sees.

But Brinkersaid neighbouring ramps are already too congested, and that with more people moving to the neighbourhoodit will only get more congested.

"This on-ramp will get busier in the future [if it's open]," he said.

Members of the team behind the proposed closure are expected to attend today's public meeting.