Southwest Transitway Extension/Riocan Marketplace Mall Update
In recent days there have been a number of updates regarding the work on the Southwest Transitway extension and Riocan’s Marketplace Mall.  I have received a copy of the work order to commence Phase Two of the Southwest Transitway extension that will see work being done within the Marketplace Mall.   City staff have assured me that traffic interruptions will be minimal with alternate routes available to bypass construction.  As you may know, the Southwest Transitway extension is part of the Federal / Provincial Stimulus Fund.  It will create a new transit station within the Marketplace Mall and connect directly with Fallowfield Station to the north.

Please be advised that due to the construction, some detours will occur for existing OC Transpo routes through the Marketplace mall.  Route 95 Orleans and route 181 Bayshore will be removed from the stops on westbound Marketplace and northbound Greenbank, (north of Marketplace) and will be moved to the bus stops on Riocan Drive.  You may notice as well that Route 73 will be making a detour along Marketplace Avenue to access the Strandherd Transit Station but will not be stopping along the detour.  These detours are as a result of the buses not being able to make a left turn into the Strandherd Transit station from Strandherd Drive.  I have been assured that signage will be posted at the affected stops to advise transit users of the changes.  Please check www.octranspo.com  regularly for detour updates.

Also within the Marketplace Mall, no parking signs will be installed along Riocan Drive, south of Marketplace Drive, to enforce the existing no parking zones at the intersections.  These zones were previously marked with paint, which has not proven to be effective.  The work order has been issued to install No Parking signs for 9 metres north and south of each intersection to improve sightlines in either direction.