Ottawa–Gatineau street closures during Canada Day celebrations

Press Release

From: Canadian Heritage

GATINEAU – Canadian Heritage would like to inform residents and visitors that access to streets in the downtown cores of Ottawa and Gatineau will be restricted during Canada Day celebrations on July 1, 2026.

Only those displaying an official Canada Day access pass, hotel guests (with proof of reservation), residents (with a driver’s licence as proof of residence) and emergency responders will be allowed vehicular access to streets that are closed. No vehicles will be allowed on the Portage Bridge, the Chaudière Crossing or the Alexandra Bridge.

To fully enjoy activities throughout the day, residents and visitors are encouraged to use public transit or bicycles to get to the celebration sites.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

Ottawa

For full details and the most up-to-date road conditions, visit the City of Ottawa website.

The following street closures are in effect from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• Wellington Street between Elgin Street and Vimy Place
• Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway between Vimy Place and Parkdale Avenue
• Sparks Street between Lyon Street North and Bronson Avenue
• Queen Street between Elgin Street and Bronson Avenue
• Metcalfe Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• O’Connor Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• Bank Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• Kent Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• Lyon Street North between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• Bay Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• Bronson Avenue between Sparks Street and Albert Street
• Commissioner Street between Wellington Street and Albert Street
• Booth Street between the Chaudière Crossing and Albert Street
• Vimy Place between Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway and Booth Street
• Chaudière Private at the Chaudière Crossing
• Miwate Private at Chaudière Private
• Zaida Eddy Private at the Chaudière Crossing
• Fleet Street between Booth Street and Lett Street – resident access at the corner of Booth Street and Albert Street
• Lloyd Street between Fleet Street and Lett Street – resident access at the corner of Booth Street and Albert Street
• Lett Street between Lloyd Street and Wellington Street – resident access at the corner of Booth Street and Albert Street
• Onigam Street between Lemieux Island and Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway

The following street closure are in effect from 7 p.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• Metcalfe Street between Albert Street and Slater Street
• O’Connor Street between Albert Street and Slater Street
• Bank Street between Albert Street and Slater Street
• Kent Street between Albert Street and Slater Street
• Lyon Street between Albert Street and Slater Street
• Bay Street between Albert Street and Slater Street
• Slater Street between Bronson Avenue and Elgin Street
• Bronson Avenue between Albert Street and Slater Street
• Albert Street between City Centre Avenue and Elgin Street

The above street closures may be in effect from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2 if there is a public safety requirement to support OC Transpo light rail queues.

The following streets are open to local traffic from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• Upper Lorne Place from Somerset Street West to the end of the street
• Lorne Avenue between Booth Street and Albert Street
• Perkins Street from Albert Street to the end of the street
• Empress Avenue North from Albert Street to the end of the street
• Booth Street between Somerset Street West and Albert Street
• Rochester Street from Somerset Street West to the end of the street
• Preston Street between Somerset Street West and Albert Street
• Primrose Avenue between Walnut Court and Booth Street
• Elm Street West between City Centre Avenue and Elm Street
• Elm Street between Elm Street West and Booth Street
• Spruce Street West between City Centre Avenue and Spruce Street
• Spruce Street between Spruce Street West and Booth Street

The following street is open to local traffic from 7 p.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• City Centre Avenue

The following multi-use pathways are closed from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2 and the detour in place from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• The Trans-Canadian pathway (Ottawa River Pathway) from the access point on Mill Street to the access point on Onigam Street at the corner of Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway
• The Trillium pathway from the junction with the Trans-Canadian pathway (Ottawa River Pathway) to the pathway located at the back of Bayview LRT Station

Gatineau

The following street closures are in effect from 10 a.m. on June 30 to 10 p.m. on July 1:

• Laval Street between Hôtel-de-Ville Street and Promenade du Portage
• Wellington Street from Laval Street for an approximate distance of 15 metres
• Wright Street from Laval Street for an approximate distance of 20 metres

The following street closures are in effect from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• Jos Montferrand Street between Laurier Street and Eddy Street
• Eddy Street between Laurier Street and the Chaudière Crossing

Interprovincial bridges

• Portage Bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2 The bridge will remain open to pedestrians only.
• Alexandra Bridge will be closed to all southbound vehicles from 6 a.m. on July 1 to midnight. The centre lane will remain open to pedestrians only.
• Chaudière Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. on July 1 to 2 a.m. on July 2. It will be closed to pedestrians from 6 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. on July 1.

The following multi-use pathway is closed from 8 p.m. on June 30 to 2 a.m. on July 2:

• Chief William Commanda Bridge

A map of the street closures is available online.

Use public transit

Take advantage of the free OC Transpo and Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) service on all routes on July 1. For more information, visit the OC Transpo and STO websites.

Ride your bike to the celebrations

Use the bike route to ride your bike to the heart of the celebrations. A free supervised bike station will be available near LeBreton Flats Park.

Main entrance to LeBreton Flats Park

The main entrance is located near the intersection of Wellington Street and Booth Street.

Universal accessibility

LeBreton Flats Park, the Supreme Court of Canada and Parliament Hill are accessible to persons with special needs.

For more information on universal accessibility at the Canada Day official sites, visit our website or contact the Ottawa Visitor Centre.

Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
media@pch.gc.ca

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