FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NCCN-12-06-15-TA June 26, 2012 Traffic Advisory Canada Day 2012 street closures, partial closure of the Capital BIXI service, free shuttle bus service and valet bike parking on July 1st Canada’s Capital Region The National Capital Commission (NCC) would like to remind those planning to take part in Canada Day in the Capital celebrations of the street closures in effect on July 1st, 2012. In order to make Canada Day an enjoyable and memorable event for all, the NCC recommends that motorists avoid the downtown core and that residents and visitors use the region’s public transportation systems or ride their bikes to the celebrations. STREETS CLOSED TO MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC OTTAWA From 6:30 am on July 1st to 1 am on July 2nd St. Patrick Street, from Mackenzie Avenue to Alexandra Bridge Murray Street, from Mackenzie Avenue to Alexandra Bridge Alexandra Bridge Rideau Street, from Dalhousie Street to Sussex Drive Nicholas Street, from Besserer Street to Rideau Street Sussex Drive, from Rideau Street to George Street Southbound on Sussex Drive, from York Street to George Street Mackenzie Avenue, from Murray Street to Wellington Street Colonel By Drive, from Rideau Street to Daly Street Wellington Street, from Kent Street to Sussex Drive Eastbound on Wellington Street, from Lyon Street to Kent Street Elgin Street, from Wellington Street to Laurier Avenue Metcalfe Street, from Albert Street to Wellington Street O’Connor Street, from Wellington Street to Albert Street Bank Street, from Albert Street to Wellington Street Slater Street, from Metcalfe Street to Elgin Street Albert Street, from Metcalfe Street to Elgin Street Queen Street, from Kent Street to Elgin Street Mackenzie King Bridge Page 1 of 4 From 7:15 am to 10 am on July 1st - The Game of Life Five-Kilometre Run/Walk Ottawa River Parkway westbound from Island Park Drive to Booth Street From 6 pm on July 1st to 1 am on July 2nd Wellington Street, from Portage Bridge to Kent Street All streets in the area north of Laurier Avenue, east of Bronson Avenue and west of Elgin Street Albert Street, from Bronson Avenue to Booth Street Lorne Street, from Primrose Street to Albert Street Primrose Street, from Booth Street to Lorne Street Slater Street, from Metcalfe Street to Bronson Avenue Bronson Avenue, from Laurier Avenue to Sparks Street Commissioner Street, from Albert Street to Wellington Street Colonel By Drive, from Daly Street to Main Street Daly Street, from Nicholas Street to Colonel By Drive From 7 pm on July 1st to 1 am on July 2nd George, York and Clarence streets, from Sussex Drive to Dalhousie Street Northbound on Sussex Drive, from George Street to Murray Street Byward and William streets, from George Street to Clarence Street Parent Street, from Clarence Street to Murray Street GATINEAU From 6:30 am on July 1st to 1 am on July 2nd Laurier Street, from Des Allumettières Boulevard to Sacré-Cœur Boulevard Saint-Étienne and Verdun streets, from Notre-Dame-de-l’Île Street to Laurier Street From 9 pm on July 1st to 1 am on July 2nd Laurier Street, from Des Allumettières Boulevard to Maisonneuve Boulevard Courcelette, Hôtel-de-Ville, Victoria, Elisabeth-Bruyère and Papineau streets, from Notre-Dame-de-l’Île Street to Laurier Street STREETS CLOSED TO VEHICLES, BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS 4:30 pm to 11 pm on July 1st Access to the Rideau Canal Locks 7 pm on July 1st to 1 am on July 2nd Mackenzie King Bridge 9 pm to 11 pm on July 1st Alexandra Bridge * All scheduled time closures and street closures are subject to change without advance notice. Page 2 of 4 Alcatel-Lucent Sunday Bikedays Alcatel-Lucent Sunday Bikedays in Ottawa will not be presented July 1st but will return on July 8th. Parkways in Gatineau Park will remain accessible. HOW TO GET AROUND ON JULY 1ST Free Valet Bike Parking From 10 am to 11:30 pm at Jacques-Cartier Park, from 9 am to 11:30 pm on Parliament Hill and from 10 am to 11:30 pm at Major’s Hill Park As part of the NCC’s green initiatives for Canada Day 2012, valet bike parking will be available on all three official sites to encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation and reduce the carbon emissions related to local visitor travel to and from the event. Valet bike parking locations are as follows: Parliament Hill: near the Bank of Canada at the intersection of Wellington Street and Bank Street Major’s Hill Park: just inside the south east entrance of the park, off MacKenzie Avenue at the rear of the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel Jacques-Cartier Park: at the corner of Laurier Street and Des Allumettières Boulevard, near the statue of Maurice Richard Important: There are no valet bike services on July 2nd. Bikes left on site after hours will be taken to the Ottawa and Gatineau police stations. Partial closure of the Capital BIXI service For security reasons related to the presence of large crowds during Canada Day, the Capital BIXI stations located at the following intersections will be closed from 2 am on July 1st to 6 am on July 2nd : Ottawa Gatineau Lyon / Queen streets Laurier / Victoria streets O’Connor / Queen streets Laurier Street / Sacré-Cœur Boulevard Elgin / Queen streets Laurier / Verdun streets William / Rideau streets Des Allumettières Boulevard / Laurier Street. York / Dalhousie streets Murray Street / Mackenzie Avenue (this station will be removed). During this period, it is still possible to return BIXI bikes to these stations, except for the station at the corner of Murray and Mackenzie, but not possible to rent them thereafter. We recommend that bikes are returned to open stations to allow other users to enjoy the service. Page 3 of 4 Free Bus Shuttle From 10 am to 6 pm Residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of the free shuttle bus service between Major’s Hill Park (Ottawa) and Jacques-Cartier Park (Gatineau). The stops are located on St. Patrick Street in Ottawa, between the National Gallery of Canada and Major’s Hill Park, and on Laurier Street in Gatineau, in front of Jacques-Cartier Park. Free Bus Service (OC Transpo and La Société de transport de l’Outaouais) Starting at 10 pm Starting at 10 pm, OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) will offer riders free bus service. For more information or to make arrangements for accessible transit, the public can contact OC Transpo at 613-741-4390 (www.octranspo.com) or the STO at 819-770- 3242 (www.sto.ca). For a map detailing the Canada Day road closures, click here. For more information on Canada Day in the Capital, and access to Canada Day official sites for people with limited mobility, members of the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000 or 1-800-465-1867, TTY: 613-239-5090 or 1-866-661-3530, visit the NCC’s website at www.canadaday.gc.ca , or stop by the Capital Information Kiosk located at the World Exchange Plaza at 111 Albert Street. Media Information: Charles Cardinal Denise LeBlanc NCC Media Relations NCC Media Relations 613-239-5227 (office) 613-239-5750 (office) 613-851-6924 (cellular) 613-851-9465 (cellular) [email protected] [email protected] Page 4 of 4 .