Building Safer Roads in Rural Ottawa: From Major Upgrades to Local Traffic Calming
For years, residents across rural Ottawa have raised concerns about dangerous intersections, outdated infrastructure, and unsafe driving conditions. Too often, these concerns were met with studies and promises while families were left to navigate roads that lagged behind modern safety standards.
Earlier this year, I introduced a motion at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) to change that reality. With the support of rural Councillors Matt Luloff and Catherine Kitts, the motion passed and marked an important step forward in making rural road safety a priority at City Hall.
The statistics highlight the urgency of this work. Although rural Ottawa represents only nine percent of reportable collisions city-wide, a disproportionate number of fatal collisions occur on our roads.
The “2020 Safety Study of Ottawa Rural Skewed Intersections” identified many locations in need of redesign, yet progress stalled for too long. My motion ensures resources are directed to rural intersections where improvements are most urgently needed, including better signage, improved lighting, safer turn lanes, and thoughtful design to reduce collisions.
We are beginning to see progress. One of the most significant projects is the Barnsdale Road and Rideau Valley Drive intersection. A design plan will be completed this fall, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and full completion in 2027. In the meantime, City staff will be adding signage enhancements to improve safety before construction begins.
The intersection at Bridgeport Avenue and Manotick Main Street will be constructed next year. The plan has shifted between a roundabout and a signalized intersection, however, after an exhaustive design process which had been impacted by surrounding properties, the decision to move forward with a signalized intersection has been made.
Another important project is at Perth Street and Shea Road in Richmond Village, a major win for the community. This critical gateway is increasingly congested, and design work is scheduled for completion next year, with construction being completed in 2027.
These three projects represent meaningful steps forward, but they are just the beginning. My office will continue to push for additional upgrades across rural Ottawa, alongside the resurfacing projects that are essential to keeping our roads safe and reliable.
While large infrastructure projects can take years to design and build, residents also contact my office regularly about immediate concerns such as speeding and unsafe driving. Addressing these issues involves a different set of tools and responsibilities.
The most direct role Councillors have is through the Temporary Traffic Calming program. Each Councillor’s office receives a modest annual budget to introduce measures like speed boards, flex stakes, and speed humps. These tools are effective in slowing traffic, but because budgets are limited, we can only introduce a handful of new measures each year. Once installed, these measures remain in place, building up improvements across the ward over time.
To install traffic calming measures, City staff must first conduct a traffic study to ensure warrants are met and that the right solution is applied. While this process can take several months, it ensures changes are evidence-based and effective.
Once City staff confirm that TTC measures can be installed and that criteria is met then the traffic services unit determines which are the best tools to install. If you have traffic concerns, you’re best course of action is to report it directly to 3-1-1 by phone or by emailing 311@ottawa.ca.
Beyond the Temporary Traffic Calming program, my office plays a supporting role. We work with residents to file and follow up on requests through the 3-1-1 system, which is the City’s main channel for reporting potholes, requesting traffic studies, or flagging other concerns. City staff, not Councillors, are responsible for decisions on matters such as stop signs, traffic signals, speed limit changes, road upgrades, resurfacing, and automated enforcement. This independent system ensures regulatory compliance with the Ministry of Transportation guidelines and general fairness across the province, even if it limits political involvement.
When it comes to speeding and dangerous driving, enforcement by police remains the most effective deterrent. Residents who observe frequent violations are encouraged to file a non-emergency police report. Reports do not need to include license plate numbers rather general descriptions of repeated issues are enough to inform police deployment. These reports directly shape where traffic officers are assigned.
Non-emergency reports can be filed online or by phone at 613-236-1222, extension 7300, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Many measures, such as road resurfacing, major redesigns, posted speed limits, and automated enforcement, remain under the authority of City staff. While I cannot direct these decisions, I make sure that residents’ concerns are heard, that they are raised at the Council table, and that they influence city-wide policy.
Whether through major intersection redesigns or small-scale traffic calming, progress is being made to make rural roads safer. For too long, rural needs were seen as an afterthought in the City’s planning process. That perception is beginning to change, thanks to dedicated funding, clear timelines, and ongoing advocacy.
I will continue working to ensure that both large projects and local traffic measures are prioritized, so residents across Ward 21 can feel confident that their roads are safe for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Our communities have waited long enough. The work is not finished but at last, it is underway.