For about two weeks starting Aug. 12, portions of the LRT will close in the evenings as the Rideau Transit Group performs what the city calls “precautionary track and maintenance work” on the line.
OC Transpo says work could begin as early as 8 p.m. some nights and are expected to be completed on August 25th.
The revised schedule will be finalized later this week and communicated through social media and station signage, according to a Tuesday memo to the city council.
In the memo, Renée Amilcar, the general manager of transit operations, said this year’s work is focused on grinding and profiling rail tracks, which she said will provide a more comfortable ride for customers.
“Every light rail system requires regular preventive maintenance annually to ensure the long-term viability and reliability of the system,” he wrote.
The track will also be inspected and repaired as needed and the heating switches will be calibrated to prepare for winter.
During the two weeks, sections that will not work will remain open to customers and replacement R1 buses will cover the service between closed stops, the note said.
The service will begin at its standard time each morning — 5 am. weekdays, 6 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sundays.
Amilcar said the work is done in August, when ridership is usually lower.
The maintenance closure comes days after service on the line was restored after a lightning strike damaged a section and closed parts of the line in the last week of July.
Booth Street Bridge replacement to close the 417 section
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has scheduled the demolition and reconstruction of the Booth Street Bridge for mid-August as well. 417 Booth fast bridge replacement to be performed August 11-15 by MTO. 417 full closures, which will close both eastbound and westbound. pic.twitter.com/5MmBggZehu —@ShawnMenard1 The downtown section of the freeway will be closed in both directions from August 11 at 8 p.m. until August 15 at 6 a.m. The closed section will run from Island Park Drive to Kent Street. The eastbound ramps at Maitland Avenue, Carling Avenue and Parkdale Avenue will also be closed, as well as the westbound ramps at O’Connor Street, Bronson Avenue, Lyon Street, Rochester Street and Parkdale Avenue. Booth Street, which is already closed from Normand Street to Arlington Street, including to cyclists and pedestrians, is expected to reopen on August 25.
