Richmond Road (Ottawa)
Encyclopedia
Richmond Road is a major road
in Eastern Ontario
, Canada
.
Richmond Road begins as a western continuation of Wellington Street West
in Ottawa
, beyond the intersection at Island Park Drive, a division point moved west a few blocks from Western Avenue, the historical township boundary, in 2005. It serves as the primary road for Westboro
. Continuing westward, the road passes by Ottawa landmarks such as the Bayshore Shopping Centre
and Queensway-Carleton Hospital
before reaching Bells Corners
. In the community, Richmond Road appears to turn into Robertson Road
, but instead continues southbound from that intersection as a mostly residential street. Richmond Road reappears as the continuation of southbound Moodie Drive, leaving Bells Corners and running through the Greenbelt
. Beyond the Greenbelt, Richmond Road passes the communities of Bridlewood and Fallowfield before intersecting with Fallowfield Road
. Continuing southward, the road passes the community of Twin Elm and follows the Jock River
to Eagleson Road
and the village of Richmond
. Its total length from Island Park Drive to Eagleson Road is approximately 25.1 km (15.6 mi). At Eagleson, Richmond Road continues westward as Perth Street, or Ottawa Road #10. Beyond Perth, this road becomes Franktown Road, and then reverts to the name Richmond Road in the County of Lanark until its end in Franktown. In Lanark County, the road is known as Lanark County Road #10.
Richmond Road is known as is known as Ottawa Road #36 from Island Park Drive until Robertson Road and as Ottawa Road #59 from Moodie Drive until Fallowfield Road. Speed limits range from 40 km/h (24.9 mph) in school and residential areas to 60 km/h (37.3 mph) in urban commercial areas, and 80 km/h (49.7 mph) in greenbelt and rural areas.
in Bytown
. The British Government had offered land in the Richmond area to British veterans of the War of 1812. Richmond Road was originally a corduroy road. Today, what is left of the road is paved. It is one of the oldest roads in Ottawa.
In his 1896 book "The History of the Ottawa Valley", the Rev. John L. Gourlay wrote:
to Robertson Road
after the late Lloyd Francis
, a wealthy land speculator, Liberal
MP
and Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
. The approved proposal would have changed the names of both Richmond and Robertson Roads through Bells Corners so that the commercial area would bear a single name, "Lloyd Francis Boulevard" for its entire length despite opposition from local residents and businesses. The name change was to become effective in May 2012. On June 22, Ottawa City Council approved renaming the 14-kilometer stretch that runs south from Moodie Drive to Eagleson Road to Old Richmond Road.
Because of the controversy, heritage advocates called on the city to overhaul its naming policy. However, on July 13 a new motion was passed rescinding the original change and renaming Richmond Road from Baseline Road to Robertson Road, Robertson Road instead. This accomplished the original goal of a single name through Bells Corners with the renaming of the original Robertson Road, although at considerable inconvenience and expense to the residents and businesses located on it.
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
in Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Richmond Road begins as a western continuation of Wellington Street West
Wellington Street West
Wellington Street West is a 4-lane arterial road west of downtown Ottawa, Ontario and is not to be confused with the principal Wellington Street in downtown Ottawa. It begins at Bayview Road as a westbound one-way street until it merges with Somerset Street to attain its full right-of-way...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, beyond the intersection at Island Park Drive, a division point moved west a few blocks from Western Avenue, the historical township boundary, in 2005. It serves as the primary road for Westboro
Westboro
Westboro is a neighbourhood of Ottawa, Canada, often referred to as Westboro Village. Located along the Ottawa River, the neighbourhood is bordered on the east by Island Park Drive, and on the west by Woodroffe Avenue. The Southern border can be stretched up to Carling Avenue...
. Continuing westward, the road passes by Ottawa landmarks such as the Bayshore Shopping Centre
Bayshore Shopping Centre
Bayshore Shopping Centre is a major shopping mall located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, more specifically in the former city of Nepean, Ontario. The mall is one of the busiest in the National Capital Region as it attracts about 7 million visitors per year from across the city and the surrounding...
and Queensway-Carleton Hospital
Queensway-Carleton Hospital
Queensway-Carleton Hospital, opened in 1976 by William Davis, is a 240 bed facility in Ottawa's west end, and serves a population of over 400,000...
before reaching Bells Corners
Bells Corners, Ontario
Bells Corners is a suburban community in the city of Ottawa, Canada. As of the Canada 2006 Census, it had a population of 9,799.-History:...
. In the community, Richmond Road appears to turn into Robertson Road
Robertson Road
Robertson Road is a road in Ottawa's west end. It runs approximately west from the junction of Richmond Road in Bells Corners where Richmond Road makes a 90° turn southward, to Eagleson Road in Kanata, where it becomes Hazeldean Road west of the intersection...
, but instead continues southbound from that intersection as a mostly residential street. Richmond Road reappears as the continuation of southbound Moodie Drive, leaving Bells Corners and running through the Greenbelt
Greenbelt (Ottawa)
The Greenbelt is a crescent of land within the present-day boundaries of the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in which real estate development is strictly controlled. It begins at Shirleys Bay in the west and extends to Green's Creek in the east...
. Beyond the Greenbelt, Richmond Road passes the communities of Bridlewood and Fallowfield before intersecting with Fallowfield Road
Fallowfield Road (Ottawa)
Fallowfield Road , is a major road in southwestern Ottawa. It is a common commuting road for Barrhaven and provides a route to western communities such as Fallowfield village and Munster Hamlet. These communities are served by OC Transpo....
. Continuing southward, the road passes the community of Twin Elm and follows the Jock River
Jock River
The Jock River, known locally as the Mighty Jock, is a tributary of the Rideau River, named after Jacques, a French man who drowned in it in the early 19th century. At one time, it was known as the Goodwood River...
to Eagleson Road
Eagleson Road (Ottawa)
Eagleson Road is a northwest-southeast road in Ottawa's west end in Kanata. It starts at Highway 417 and ends at Brophy Road south of Richmond. North of Highway 417 it becomes March Road...
and the village of Richmond
Richmond, Ontario
Richmond is a Canadian village. Founded in 1818, it spans the Jock River, a tributary of the Rideau River. Like many communities in eastern Ontario, Richmond houses several unique populations. Some residents have historic and economic roots in the immediate area. Richmond operates as a small core...
. Its total length from Island Park Drive to Eagleson Road is approximately 25.1 km (15.6 mi). At Eagleson, Richmond Road continues westward as Perth Street, or Ottawa Road #10. Beyond Perth, this road becomes Franktown Road, and then reverts to the name Richmond Road in the County of Lanark until its end in Franktown. In Lanark County, the road is known as Lanark County Road #10.
Richmond Road is known as is known as Ottawa Road #36 from Island Park Drive until Robertson Road and as Ottawa Road #59 from Moodie Drive until Fallowfield Road. Speed limits range from 40 km/h (24.9 mph) in school and residential areas to 60 km/h (37.3 mph) in urban commercial areas, and 80 km/h (49.7 mph) in greenbelt and rural areas.
History
Richmond Road was built in 1818 to connect the military settlement at Richmond with Richmond Landing just below the Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa RiverOttawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
in Bytown
Bytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
. The British Government had offered land in the Richmond area to British veterans of the War of 1812. Richmond Road was originally a corduroy road. Today, what is left of the road is paved. It is one of the oldest roads in Ottawa.
In his 1896 book "The History of the Ottawa Valley", the Rev. John L. Gourlay wrote:
- "We never heard why these distinguished colonists chose the banks of the Jock in preference to those of the Rideau or the Ottawa. They arrived in the middle of August at the Richmond landing, having left Quebec on the 28th of July, 1818, passing and saluting the fine man-of-war vessel at anchor, that had the Duke on board. Under Sergeant Hill, they organized to cut the road from the Flats, the place of their encampment to the Jock, ever since known as the Richmond Road. They kept within hailing distance of the river on their right hand until they reached the sandy hill, when the sight of the great bay directed them to the left, and at what was soon after, Bell's Corners; turned still more to the left till they struck the Jock, up which they kept their course till they reached the little falls, which Captain Lyons soon improved into a mill dam."
Future
On 13 April 2011 the Ottawa city council voted to rename a portion of Richmond Road from Baseline RoadBaseline Road (Ottawa)
Baseline Road is a road in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Baseline runs from Richmond Road east in a straight line until it ends at the Heron Road Bridge over the Rideau River and Rideau Canal when it becomes Heron Road. Before the 2001 City of Ottawa amalgamation, Baseline formed the border of the city...
to Robertson Road
Robertson Road
Robertson Road is a road in Ottawa's west end. It runs approximately west from the junction of Richmond Road in Bells Corners where Richmond Road makes a 90° turn southward, to Eagleson Road in Kanata, where it becomes Hazeldean Road west of the intersection...
after the late Lloyd Francis
Cyril Lloyd Francis
Cyril Lloyd Francis, PC was a Canadian politician and one time Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons...
, a wealthy land speculator, Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
. The approved proposal would have changed the names of both Richmond and Robertson Roads through Bells Corners so that the commercial area would bear a single name, "Lloyd Francis Boulevard" for its entire length despite opposition from local residents and businesses. The name change was to become effective in May 2012. On June 22, Ottawa City Council approved renaming the 14-kilometer stretch that runs south from Moodie Drive to Eagleson Road to Old Richmond Road.
Because of the controversy, heritage advocates called on the city to overhaul its naming policy. However, on July 13 a new motion was passed rescinding the original change and renaming Richmond Road from Baseline Road to Robertson Road, Robertson Road instead. This accomplished the original goal of a single name through Bells Corners with the renaming of the original Robertson Road, although at considerable inconvenience and expense to the residents and businesses located on it.