Bank and Leitrim redesign moves forward, but land deal stalls
City engineers finish design for major intersection overhaul. Federal land acquisition could delay construction until 2027 or beyond.
The intersection of Bank Street and Leitrim Road in the south end has become a chokepoint — drivers avoid it when they can, and residents say the layout hasn't kept pace with rapid growth in Findlay Creek. City engineers are completing a major redesign that would add dedicated turning lanes, wider approaches, new sidewalks, and safer pedestrian crossings.
But construction won't start anytime soon. Before any work begins, the city needs to acquire land from multiple owners, including a parcel at the northwest corner owned by the National Capital Commission.
Riverside South–Findlay Creek Coun. Steve Desroches said he wants the process finished quickly, but he's worried about how long federal land negotiations could drag on. "We need the federal government to understand the urgency," he said. "When we have a federal partner that historically has not had a reputation for moving quickly, it's a worry point for me and a worry point for the community."
Desroches said the city expects to finish design work this fall and hopes to finalize land transactions in 2027, with construction to follow shortly after. He's also been in contact with Ottawa South MP David McGuinty's office to press the urgency.
For Findlay Creek resident Roger Baliki, the current state is just a mess. He now plans routes around the intersection whenever possible, frustrated by congestion and confusing traffic flows. "You have this one lane moving up, and you have three directions by the time you get to the light," he said.