Wellington Street reopens in front of Parliament Hill Friday afternoon

The stretch of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill will reopen to vehicles at some point Friday afternoon, according to the city.

The four-lane road in that area was taken over byvehicles and protesters duringthe truck convoy protest, which lastedfrom the end of January 2022 until the Family Day long weekend the following month.

It never reopened to public vehicles, with barriers restricting it to parliamentary vehicles and active transportation between Bank and Elgin streets as politicians and experts debated its future, including how, or if, to reopen it.

Ottawa city council voted in February to bring vehicles back as the conversation continues about its long-term futureincluding whetherit should become part of the parliamentary precinct, which would make theParliamentary Protection Service in charge of security instead of Ottawa police.

Ottawa Mayor MarkSutcliffe said this past February that it wastime to remove the "ugly" barricades and bring activity back to the street.

Council also voted to add temporary bike lanes and flex posts between Sussex Drive and Lyon Street.