Traffic

How the new Ottawa Hospital will affect traffic "An average of 100 ambulance trips are expected every day, with 75% of the trips on Maple Drive and 25% on Prince of Wales." (Note: Maple Drive, Prince of Wales and all of the other highways on the Farm are being widened. Maple Drive is being "realigned" to create more space for emergency vehicles.  The City of Ottawa owns Prince of Wales Drive within the Farm. I would not be surprised if the Agricultural Museum is demolished or if  nearby land is removed. Prince of Wales will not only be an ambulance route but a major trucking route for suppliers of hospital equipment. The road was a  scenic entryway to the Experimental Farm. Plans are now underway to destroy another scenic highway, the Queen Elizabeth Driveway along the Rideau Canal.

 Maple Drive was the gateway to the Dominion Observatory campus, DARA Tennis Club and the William Saunders Building. The Dominion Observatory is in the path of destruction, the danger zone. The South Azimuth on Maple Drive is endangered. In 1973 the National Capital Commission wanted 700 acres of the Experimental Farm. Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan said the land would be transferred "over my dead body." A few days ago I saw the massive parking garage--- I wonder how many acres of the Farm are really being taken from Canadians in 2024/2025.) 

Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site Management Plan Part 7. Existing conditions in the year 2019:

Road Name and Section  Baseline Road Merivale to Prince of Wales. Divided arterial. 4 lanes. Peak Directional Volume (veh/hr) - 2,000 

Road Name and Section Carling Ave. Hwy 417 to Booth. Divided arterial.6 travel lanes. Peak Directional Volume (veh/hr) - 2,000.

Road Name and Section Merivale Rd. Clyde to Baseline. Undivided arterial. 4 travel lanes. Peak Directional Volume - (veh/hr) - 900

Road Name and Section  Merivale Rd Baseline to Kingston.  Divided arterial. 4 travel lanes. Peak Directional Volume - (veh/hr) - 1,200 

Road Name and Section Merivale Rd. Kingston to Carling. Undivided arterial. 4 traffic lanes - (veh/hr) - 1,200

Road Name and Section Merivale Rd. Carling to Hwy. 417. Undivided arterial. 2 traffic lanes - (veh/hr) -n/a.

Road Name and Section Fisher Ave Dynes to Carling. Undivided arterial. (veh/hr) - 1,000

Road Name and Section Prince of Wales Dynes to Preston Undivided arterial. 2 lanes - (veh/hr) 1,500

Road Name and Section Preston Ave. Prince of Wales to Carling Undivided arterial. 4 lanes (veh/hr) 1,100

Road Name and Section Preston Ave. Carling to Hwy 417. Undivided arterial. 4 lanes - (veh/hr) 800

Road Name and Section Parkdale Ave. Carling to Hwy 417. Undivided arterial. 2 lanes - (veh/hr) 600

Road Name and Section Holland Ave. Carling to Hwy 417. Undivided arterial. 2 lanes - (veh/hr) 800

Road Capacity "Arterial road capacity typically ranges from 800 veh/hr and 1,500 veh/hr per lane. The results of the analysis suggest that Baseline Road and Prince of Wales Drive are currently at capacity during the peak commuter hour and there is spare capacity on the balance of the arterial road network within the study area."