Ottawa's light-rail transit will not open its expanded north-south line until at least April 2024, a 20-month delay to the expected delivery date in the original contract.

Plans announced Friday by the city say the second phase of LRT construction would be completed in full by 2025 and cost nearly $4.7 billion.

The head of OC Transpo made it clear on Wednesday the transit agency will not totally backpedal fall changes to bus routes that have been "directly" impacted by the delayed launch of Ottawa's light rail transit (LRT) line.