Ottawa drivers be warned: there's nothing normal about this fall's commute

This is not a normal year.

Usually, this is the week when we are brutally reminded of how thick and slow and stressful our commute can be.

The summer is gone, the school buses are back and the construction continues in earnest — as long as the ground is soft enough to ply, pick and pave.

But this is not a normal year. We already know what to expect. This week's commute will be a miserable affair to be sure, but we've already had a taste. 

It was already awful five days ago, when most kids were still sleeping late and folks were burning up the last of their vacation time.

Last week, buses were left idling for 10 light cycles at Bank and Slater streets. People described Albert Street as a "conga line."

So while congestion will undoubtedly worsen, it's nothing we haven't already shown we can weather. Still, let's be clear about why this is the worst time in the modern history of our city to be a commuter.

Tunnel vision

They're building a light rail transit system. All 13 stations are now under construction and the whole tunnel system — including the three caverns that will become subterranean platforms — is nearly complete.

There's just a bit to do near Rideau Station where the cursed sinkhole swallowed a van and set the digging back a few weeks.

It looks like the Lyon Station will be completed first. The city showed reporters pictures of it last week, and it looks very nice indeed.

One thing many people took away from last week's presentation was there would be "no new projects" this fall. While technically true, this is not the information you really need. What commuters need to know is, will there be any new closures?

Yes. Yes, there will be.

One doozy could very well be Metcalfe Street closing between Wellington and Queen streets. That's not a new project, but it is a new phase of an existing one, and it should start this week.

Fun times! Just as soon as we get Bank Street back as an option south of Wellington, they take Metcalfe away.

Crossing Lebreton

The other one is a change to the way you cross Lebreton Flats. That whole Preston thing was working pretty well if you ask me, but now it will go away and we'll be treated to an all-new Booth crossing — one high enough to allow the LRT trains to pass underneath.

A lovely project, but not one which I think will save you much time until the trains actually arrive on the scene.

So, what will save you time?

Three things: an end to lane reductions on Bank south of the 417, and Lyon and O'Connor getting back to normal. All three are key escape routes from Centretown, and the latter two have been miserable crawls all summer long.

Actually, Lyon has been closed, which is worse.

Look for the work to end on Bank by the end of this month. Lyon is supposed to reopen from Somerset to Gladstone at the end of November.

Blame the LRT

Meanwhile all the LRT stuff continues. That's the reason the northern bit of O'Connor is closed and Queen Street is a one-way through much of Centretown.

It's also to blame for the heavy congestion on Nicholas, which now accommodates buses which used to travel on the Transitway.

Elsewhere, this process of moving buses seems to be working well, such as on Scott Street and the eastbound 417 between Nicholas and the split.

I'd like to be able to say nothing changes on the 417 this fall, but that's not true, either. Crews will soon begin work to widen the highway between Maitland and Carling avenues. If you had to persevere through a similar project in Kanata a few years ago, you'll probably have a good idea of what to expect with this new one.

The folks who can count themselves lucky are those who live in the south, the east, Orléans and in Gatineau. Not much changes for you, as long as you don't work in Centretown.

Are we over the worst of it yet? I don't think so. Are we halfway there? Yes, that sounds fair. Well, closer to the truth, anyway.

Keep moving, land shark

If you want to make your commute better, there are a few simple things you can do.

First, ask yourself what kind of person you are. If you're like me, you're a land shark — you don't mind going out of your way as long as you keep moving. This is a great way to be. I highly recommend switching up your route. Keeps things interesting; it keeps you sharp.

I also recommend trying to at least do a combo drive-bike commute or drive-bus commute. Every day I see cars and trucks with predominantly one occupant. This is the society we live in, but I guarantee we'd all be a lot happier with even just a few hundred fewer vehicles out there.

This is a great year to try it out. Because this is not a normal year.