Here's how to deal with the Highway 417 closures

Highway 417is closed in both directions between the CarlingAvenue and MetcalfeStreetexitsfrom Friday evening until early Tuesday morning so another overpass can be replaced.

Drivers who need to travel through central Ottawa will have to find a detour and people moving around the area will have to deal with the extra vehicles.

This just happened in August, so there's some recent history to draw on. Here's what to expect.

What's closing?

The 417, which is also part of the Trans-Canada Highway,is closing in both directions between the exit to Carling and Kirkwood avenues (near Hampton Park) and to Metcalfe and Catherine streets (nearOttawa police headquarters).

Those exits will bethe last chancefor motorists to exit the highwayand the firstto get back on once they've passedit.

Lane and ramp closures start at 7 p.m. Friday. The full closurestarts at 8 p.m. and is scheduled to end at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. The end time could change.

Rochester Street isclosed under the 417 until Oct. 11.

Northbound Booth Street closes under the highway at 5 p.m. Friday and so doessouthbound Booth between Gladstone Avenue and Raymond Street. Bothreopen when the highway does.

Why do we need this?

The highway bridge over Rochester Street is being replaced. Over the 82-hour closure, the old bridge will be taken apart and a new bridge moved into its place.

The next bridges on the schedule are Bronson Avenue and Percy Street in the summer of 2023 and Preston Street in 2024.

What will happen this weekend?

Official detourslean on Carlingand, depending which direction drivers are going, Bronson Avenue or Booth, Catherine or Chamberlain streets.

In August, these streets were clogged and the highways backed up for an exit or two from the closure as lane closures funnelled drivers to the exits.

The ripple effect createdbusy Baseline, Heron, Hog's Backand Hunt Club roads as drivers looked for other ways to travel east and westacross Ottawa.

On Aug. 12, the only weekday of the previous closure, taking Baseline, Heron and Riverside Drive was a slightly better option than the official detour.

Broadly, streets were busier than normal during the day from the Ottawa River to Hunt Club Road and Woodroffe Avenue to Riverside. Most of the Aug. 12 problems were getting through central Ottawa or getting to and from the corefrom the west.

Some people went to Gatineau and back to get east-west, others cut through Ottawa to the south using Mitch Owens Road.

Remember to follow speed limits if you're drivingaresidential road.

What can I do?

This isn't a ban on driving in the affected area and it's unfortunate to cancel plans therewhen smaller businesses can use the support during the pandemic, but driving there will take you more time for most of the day.

Plan ahead: leave extra time, think about shifting plansearlier or laterand have a couple of options in case your chosen route is too slow.

CBC Ottawa has its usual commuting updates on CBC Radio One and Twitteron Monday.

Taking transit, or parking and walking or rollingare other strategies. The weekend forecastis a mix of sun and cloud and daytime highs in the mid-teens.

Buses may get caught in congested roads.

The closest OC TranspoPark & Ride locations to downtown (that don't require a permit)are at Greenboro, Jeanne d'Arc, Baseline (which requires permits weekday mornings) and Eagleson.

What else is happening?

Taking Nicholas Street to access the highway may not be a good idea because construction crews are stillreconfiguringits intersection with Laurier Avenue.

People who may not cycle often in downtown Ottawashould know part of the multi-use pathway behind Parliament Hill is closed.

Drivers looking for detours should rememberWeekend Bikedaysclose the westbound Sir John A. Macdonald Parkwayto vehicles 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

TheSir George-tienne Cartier Parkway closes to vehicles those same times both ways betweenthe Aviation Parkway and St. Joseph Boulevard.

The annual Panda Game is Saturdayand should createmore trafficaround the Sandy Hill arena that morning andLansdowne Park that afternoon.