What you should know about U.S. president’s visit to Ottawa this week

Article content

United States President Joe Biden will visit Ottawa on Thursday and Friday to with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to address Parliament, certain to draw crowds and attention and to impact traffic flow.

Article content

Here is what Ottawa residents should know ahead of the trip by Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

Increased police presence

Security during Biden’s visit is being supervised by an integrated security unit (ISU) led by the RCMP in coordination with the Ottawa Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Gatineau police and the Parliamentary Protective Service, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Kim Chamberland said. The ISU is also working closely with the Canadian Forces and the U.S. Secret Service, which travels with the president.

“The role of the RCMP and its ISU partners is to ensure the proper functioning of the event and that President and First Lady Biden’s visit to Canada occurs peacefully and safely for everyone and that their protection is safeguarded at all times,” Chamberland write in an email to this newspaper.

Article content

Article content

“The public may see an increased police presence, as well as air operations in the coming days. There is no cause for concern.”

The Ottawa Police Service posted online on Monday that “a number of areas in the city, such as large parking lots,” would be used to facilitate staging and parking areas for police agencies during Biden’s visit and that resident might see an increased police presence this week.

Norad’s Canadian Region will support the RCMP in providing air security with military jets and helicopters as early as Wednesday and extending past the end of Biden’s visit on Friday.

Traffic disruptions

Biden’s visit is expected to slow traffic flow in various parts of Ottawa and cause gridlock in the downtown core.

Article content

On Tuesday evening, the City of Ottawa issued an extensive list of roads likely to experience disruptions. “Some temporary closures may last multiple hours,” the advisory said.

Thursday

• Airport Parkway, between the Ottawa International Airport and Bronson Avenue

• Bronson Avenue, between Findlay Avenue and Airport Parkway

• Colonel By Drive, between Hog’s Back Road and Daly Avenue

• Sussex Drive, between George Street and Princess Drive

Friday

• Wellington Street (westbound), between Kent and Metcalfe streets

• Wellington Street (eastbound), between Lyon and Metcalfe streets

• Metcalfe Street, between Queen and Wellington streets

• O’Connor Street, between Queen and Wellington streets

• Bank Street, between Queen and Wellington streets

Article content

• Sussex Drive, between Rideau Street and Princess Avenue

• Princess Drive, between Sir George-Étienne Parkway and Sussex Drive

• Sir George-Étienne Parkway, between Bearbrook Road and Princess Drive

• Aviation Parkway, north of Montreal Road

• Airport Parkway, between the Ottawa International Airport and Bronson Avenue

• Bronson Avenue, between Holmwood Avenue and Airport Parkway

• Colonel By Drive, between Hog’s Back Road and Daly Avenue

• Sussex Drive, between George Street and Princess Drive

Roads experiencing full closure from 4 p.m. on Thursday to 11 p.m. on Friday.

• Wellington Street, between Metcalfe Street and Mackenzie Avenue

• Rideau Street, between Mackenzie Avenue and Dalhousie Street

• Elgin Street, between Queen and Wellington streets

Article content

• Mackenzie Avenue, between Murray and Rideau streets

• Colonel By Drive, between Daly Avenue and Rideau Street

• Sussex Drive, between Rideau Street and George Street

When the presidential motorcade is in motion, the Macdonald-Cartier and Alexandra bridges will have intermittent and temporary closures in both directions for all vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian traffic, the city added, but the Portage and Chaudière bridges should remain open in both directions.

“The morning commute on Thursday, March 23 is not expected to be impacted, however, for security reasons, the exact details and timing of road closures and other impacts to city services may be communicated at the last minute,” the city said.

For traffic updates, visit the interactive traffic map on https://traffic.ottawa.ca/map/ or follow @Ottawa_Traffic on Twitter.

Article content

The city also said O-Train Line 1 service would operate as regularly scheduled during Biden’s visit, but some OC Transpo bus routes and Para Transpo service will experience travel delays due to road closures and various routes will have detours. Bus service will be detoured from Rideau Street to Mackenzie King Bridge on Thursday and Friday.

Will it be televised?

CTV News Channel says it will start its live coverage of the visit on Thursday. CBC and CBC News Network will broadcast a news special on Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The president’s address to Parliament on Friday will also likely be broadcast by other Canadian and U.S. news channels as part of their daily coverage.

Where to catch a glimpse in person

Biden is to be welcomed by Governor General Mary Simon at the Ottawa International Airport, then to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to address Parliament on Friday, according to an itinerary released by the White House.

The best way to see Biden in-person — from a distance — is likely to stay close to the downtown core, specifically by Parliament Hill. Anywhere between the Château Laurier hotel and the Senate of Canada building stretching westward along Wellington Street toward the Supreme Court of Canada would appear to be the best bet.