Ahead of the arrival of a travelling, pro-pipeline convoy in the national capital next week, the City is advising Ottawa commuters to expect heavy traffic, transit delays and road closures in the downtown area on Tuesday, Feb. 19, and Wednesday, Feb. 20.
The large truck convoy left Red Deer, Alta., on Thursday morning and is expected to roll into Ottawa on Tuesday morning.
The City of Ottawa says the so-called “United We Roll” convoy, will descend on Parliament Hill in the downtown core from the east and west, and from across the river in Gatineau, Que.
As a result, the City says it plans to close Wellington Street — which runs directly in front of the Hill — and Elgin Street to regular traffic from 8 a.m. to possibly after the afternoon rush hour on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Allow extra time for your commute into Centretown those two days or, if you can, avoid driving into downtown by car altogether, the City said in a statement.
OC Transpo also anticipates delays on bus routes and will be “detouring service from the convoy as required,” the City said. Similarly, Para Transpo pick-up and drop-offs in the downtown area might also be delayed.
The convoy took off with about 150 trucks, an organizer told Global News on Wednesday. Around 80 were expected to make the full journey to Ottawa, with others joining along the way.
Once they arrive on Parliament Hill, those involved intend to protest two federal bills; one proposes changes to how natural resource projects are assessed, and the other would halt crude oil tanker traffic on the B.C. North Coast.
The “United We Roll” group says the convoy is trying to raise awareness about the oil and gas sector, and also opposes the “current format of the carbon tax.”
— With files from Emily Mertz in Edmonton