A $52.23 million road-widening project along Carp Road in Stittsville is threatening the survival of local small businesses as preliminary utility work begins ahead of major construction this fall.
The City of Ottawa initiative aims to expand a two-kilometer stretch of Carp Road from two to four lanes between Highway 417 and Hazeldean Road.
The project will also add new sidewalks and bicycle tracks on both sides of the roadway.
Business Owners Voice Concerns
Craig Beaudry and Monique Haugen, owners of the Wiches Cauldron Sandwich Shoppe, expressed deep concern that their brick-and-mortar enterprise will not survive the projected five-year construction timeline due to lane closures and reduced accessibility.
"We understand that it is absolutely crucial and beneficial for the neighbourhood and for the community going ahead.
But in the interim, it is probably going to put us under," said Beaudry, co-owner of Wiches Cauldron Sandwich Shoppe.
The shop will lose 26 feet of its front patio because the city is acquiring a few meters of property on both sides of the road for the widening.
Beaudry noted that the ongoing utility work by Bell Media is already creating detours and traffic delays.
"We will not last this next year and a half, let alone five years," Beaudry said.
The construction is expected to restrict vehicular access significantly, making it difficult for customers to navigate the area.
Beaudry noted that the planned single-lane operations would severely impact his parking lot availability.
"They will be closing one lane individually (during the construction), which will make it essentially impossible to get in (to the Wiches Cauldron parking lot)," Beaudry said.
The restaurateur acknowledged that the infrastructure upgrade would ultimately benefit future residents and upcoming residential developments, despite the immediate negative consequences for his own establishment.
"Carp Road is difficult enough to deal with, turning left or turning right … but once it’s closed down to one lane, it’s going to be a nightmare," Beaudry said.
The impacts of the construction project are expected to extend beyond Carp Road to neighboring commercial corridors in Stittsville.
Other local business operators have joined the advocacy efforts to minimize economic disruptions.
"I’m not trying to sell a sad story, it’s truly beneficial for the community and the businesses that will pop up and for all the new condos and apartments and all the new residents," Beaudry said.
The business owners are adapting to the reality of the multi-year infrastructure project. They continue to operate while facing an uncertain financial future.
"We just accepted our fate and only hope for the best every day we can," Beaudry said.
Advocacy and City Response
Corri Greenberg, the owner of Brews and Blues on nearby Stittsville Main Street, actively advocated for the business community.
Her efforts secured a commitment from the city to shift certain construction activities to overnight hours.
"We’re doing the best that we can," said Greenberg, owner of Brews and Blues.
Greenberg stated that she was unaware of the planned infrastructure project when she established her business.
She emphasized that the lack of institutional support complicates recovery for local shops.
"But we don’t have any help for small businesses.
I’ve done a lot of work trying to advocate for people around us because this is affecting all of us," Greenberg said.
The overnight work schedule is designated to take place between 10 p. m.
and 6 a. m.
to minimize daytime traffic disruptions.
"I wouldn’t have bought the place had I known," Greenberg said.
The business owner reiterated her lack of prior information regarding the scope of the regional roadwork.
"I didn’t know any of this when I started this business (in) November 2024," Greenberg said.
Stittsville Ward City Councillor Glen Gower confirmed the project cost was formalized during the late 2026 budget process.
Gower held a public consultation meeting last November and committed to holding additional public updates.
"I’ve been telling residents, this is going to be a very disruptive process, whether you live or work on Carp Road or whether you use that as a commuting route," said Gower, Stittsville Ward City Councillor.
The councillor explained that keeping one traffic lane open at all times is the primary reason the construction timeline spans five years.
Gower emphasized that municipal communications will focus on reminding the public that local shops remain accessible.
"We’re going to do everything we can to make sure residents and businesses understand the impact and make sure that people know that businesses are still open for business," Gower said.
According to Gower, the first phase of the development will focus on specific intersection modifications at Carp Road and Hazeldean Road, followed by the two-kilometer widening in the second phase.
The municipality maintains that the long-term infrastructure improvements are vital to addressing chronic traffic congestion on the corridor.
"It is definitely needed," Gower said.
