Findlay Creek Plaza - Construction Update

Since my return to City Hall, I have heard from both residents and local businesses about the need to improve safety and access at the northern entrance and exit of the Findlay Creek Plaza. While initial action was taken to reduce the berm and improve visibility, concerns remain regarding safety and traffic flow.

With the ongoing Bank Street upgrades, there is now an opportunity to implement permanent improvements at this location.

The Plaza owner, who is responsible for this project, is planning to start construction on August 18th to enhance traffic safety by modifying the northern entrance and exit of the Findlay Creek Plaza. These upgrades directly respond to long-standing concerns from the community, particularly around left-turn movements onto Findlay Creek Drive.

The planned changes include:

• Right-in / Right-out only at the current eastern exit

The median on Findlay Creek Drive will be extended, meaning vehicles leaving from the current eastern exit will only be able to turn right. Left turns into and out of this entrance will no longer be permitted. This design eliminates risky left turns across busy traffic, one of the main safety concerns raised by residents to my office.

• Opening of a new entrance/exit in front of FreshCo

On the west side of the plaza along Findlay Creek Drive, a new entrance/exit (already built into the original design and currently blocked off with bollards) will be opened. This new access will allow westbound traffic to enter the plaza and will provide a safer location for left turns when exiting. It will also make traffic flow more predictable and improve safety for pedestrians with curb adjustments and pavement markings.

The Plaza owner is leading this project, which has been coordinated to align with the current Bank Street upgrades so that the work can be completed while construction is already underway in the area.

I am pleased to see these improvements moving ahead and have emphasized the importance of carefully managing traffic impacts as progress is made.

Updates will continue to be shared through my newsletter and on my social media channels.

Thank you for your patience as this work proceeds in coordination with the Bank Street upgrades, with both projects focused on improving safety and supporting the growth of Findlay Creek.

For questions related to this project, please email steve.desroches@ottawa.ca.