Interprovincial bridge crossing discussion

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

If we can at least get something more reliable and consistent than buses, even if the travel time isn't significantly better than driving, it should still draw more people to transit.

Also something more comfortable than buses, which is an underappreciated factor.

[GeoNerd]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

The only thing more ridiculous than the fact that we are still discussing this bridge is the fact we don't have a west end bridge proposal as well!

Unfortunately, we have a lot of very rich folks along the river in the west and then an active military facility

This would be outrageously expensive, involve a 4.5km tunnel, and require +6 levels of government to get on board, but it would be so awesome and massive for the metro area.

[Harley613]

If you look at the depth charts for Lac Deschenes you can see it would be easy to do a simple Causeway here

[cprail]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Also something more comfortable than buses, which is an underappreciated factor.

Amen to that. Comfort is almost never even mentioned. To be honest that's 100% why I drive downtown from Aylmer. Bumpy, vibrating, winding, fogged up/dirty/covered in dots up windows, noisy buses make me want to puke (literally). I can handle it for 15 minutes, not 40. People who want to fix transit with buses don't ride buses.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by Harley613

If you look at the depth charts for Lac Deschenes you can see it would be easy to do a simple Causeway here

And the soils / bedrock conditions at that point are much better for heavy construction than at the proposed Aviation Parkway alignment (which has some of the worst soils in the City at the area around RCMP and Rockcliffe Airport.)

[zzptichka]

Causeway or even a bridge through the lake here is a non-starter. It's a major summer recreation destination, this will ruin it. Tunnel might work.

[GeoNerd]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Causeway or even a bridge through the lake here is a non-starter. It's a major summer recreation destination, this will ruin it. Tunnel might work.

Agreed. The yacht & sailing clubs in the area and their well-to-do members would put an immediate halt to any bridge idea. Perhaps a partial bridge/tunnel like a mini Øresund Bridge could work. Not sure of the savings over a full tunnel though.

[roger1818]

Over in the Ottawa Bypass Corridor thread I posted a fantasy map of a North-South Bypass that would line up with a Kettle Island bridge and would help redirect more traffic to it.

[J.OT13]

Public participation report from the NCC: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/eastern-b...sid=8ba2c511-01cb-f011-80f5-0050568ece72

[rocketphish]

Getting trucks out of downtown tops list of benefits for Kettle Island bridge, NCC report finds
The survey results came from public consultation into the latest iteration of the plans for a potential sixth span linking Ottawa and Gatineau.

By Ben Andrews, Ottawa Citizen
Published Dec 04, 2025 | Last updated 17 minutes ago

Limiting truck traffic in the downtown core is viewed by residents on both sides of the Ottawa River as the top potential benefit of a proposed east-end bridge, a new National Capital Commission report has found.

Community consultation is underway on plans to build a sixth bridge across the river linking Ottawa’s Aviation Parkway to Gatineau’s Montée Paiement across Kettle Island.

Plans for a bridge in that location have been drawn up, shelved and dusted off again since the 1990s. The current attempt at getting the project off the ground was included in the federal government’s 2024 fall economic statement.

On Thursday, the NCC released a report summarizing the first round of public consultation into the latest iteration of the bridge plans.

Of 5,113 responses to an online survey, 38.5 per cent listed reducing truck traffic as the most important potential benefit. That issue ranked at the top of the list for residents in both Ontario and Quebec by a wide margin.

Reducing commute times and providing better options for public transit were a distant second and third.

Meanwhile, the top concern respondents raised about the project was the potential for traffic impacts on nearby neighbourhoods.

Results highlight longstanding divide

Building a new interprovincial bridge over Kettle Island has been a contentious issue for decades.

In 2012, politicians and residents in east-end neighbourhoods successfully scuttled an NCC proposal to revive the bridge proposal.

Then, in 2019, the federal government asked the NCC to resurrect the idea. Geotechnical studies were conducted in 2022.

Since then, the government has contracted technical advisors for the project.

Area MPs are divided on whether to forge ahead, with Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester MP Mona Fortier opposing the current proposal, and Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon vocally backing it. Community groups are likewise divided, with some praising the bridge’s potential to limit truck traffic downtown and others concerned that traffic would merely be diverted elsewhere.

As the latest survey shows, trucks are top of mind for many residents, though views are mixed among politicians as to whether another bridge is the best way to achieve that end.

According to an NCC study, about 3,500 trucks cross the Ottawa River each day, with 72 per cent of them taking the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge leading into Lowertown Ottawa.

The latest NCC report included demographic information on survey respondents. Young and racialized respondents were underrepresented, and the survey featured “strong participation” from middle- to upper-income households.

The next round of public input, which will include an opportunity for comment on early design concepts for the bridge, is scheduled for 2026.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/trucks-downtown-ottawa-gatineau-bridge-ncc

[J.OT13]

Le sixième pont au cœur d’une joute politique à Gatineau
Par Mathieu Bélanger, Le Droit
24 mai 2026 à 04h05

Gatineau Ensemble poursuit ses efforts afin de forcer le conseil municipal à prendre rapidement une position formelle sur le projet de pont de l’Île Kettle, mais la démarche pourrait s’annoncer plus compliquée qu’anticipé par le parti d’opposition.

Les membres de la commission des transports sont venus mettre un peu de sable dans l’engrenage, jeudi, en adoptant à l’unanimité une recommandation qui sera acheminée au conseil municipal en juin. Si elle est adoptée par une majorité d’élus, cela pourrait ultimement prolonger l’exercice de positionnement auquel le conseil est convié par Gatineau Ensemble.

Alors que l’opposition souhaite simplement obtenir une position d’appui du conseil envers le projet fédéral, la commission des transports, suggère aux élus une séquence différente. Les membres de la commission proposent d’abord d’étudier le dossier du pont dans l’est afin d’être en mesure de faire une recommandation à l’intention des membres du conseil municipal. Ils jugent que cela s’inscrit clairement dans le mandat de la commission.

Pour ce faire, le conseil devrait accepter d’ajouter le dossier du pont au plan de travail de la commission des transports. Le plan pour 2026 a cependant déjà été adopté, ce qui pourrait repousser l’exercice à 2027. Une fois l’accord du conseil obtenu, la présidente de la commission, Catherine Craig-St-Louis, souhaiterait interpeller la Commission de la capitale nationale (CCN) afin que ses représentants viennent faire une présentation des données et des différentes études menées à ce jour entourant le projet de pont de l’île Kettle.

La commission demande aussi à obtenir, pour nourrir sa réflexion, les analyses faites par la Ville [si de telles analyses existent] concernant les impacts sur la circulation, les plans d’aménagement, ainsi que les coûts qu’un tel projet pourrait engendrer pour la municipalité.

«Notre recommandation au conseil pour un tel exercice va cheminer en parallèle de celle de Gatineau Ensemble, a noté Mme Craig-St-Louis. On ne croit pas que le conseil devrait se prononcer sur un projet pour lequel il n’a pas eu un portrait plus complet.»

Questionnée cette semaine quant à sa position sur le pont dans l’est, la mairesse de Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, a évité de répondre directement. Elle a rappelé que les démarches de Gatineau Ensemble allaient nécessairement engendrer des discussions sur le sujet au cours des prochaines semaines. La mairesse a ajouté qu’il n’y avait pour l’instant «rien de nouveau dans ce projet fédéral».

Le ministre fédéral des Transports et député de Gatineau, Steven MacKinnon, a pour sa part affirmé à Radio-Canada, plus tôt cette semaine, que le pont dans l’est «c’est un chantier, ce n’est plus un projet à l’étude, les études sont faites et elles sont disponibles».

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/actua...e-a-gatineau-A7ATIWDTURE27MVHQJYUQTUEXY/

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by cprail

Amen to that. Comfort is almost never even mentioned. To be honest that's 100% why I drive downtown from Aylmer. Bumpy, vibrating, winding, fogged up/dirty/covered in dots up windows, noisy buses make me want to puke (literally). I can handle it for 15 minutes, not 40. People who want to fix transit with buses don't ride buses.

Am I imagining things, or are things even bumpier than usual this spring?

[rocketphish]

NCC approves design principles for 6th bridge over Ottawa River
NCC aiming for final design by 2029, opening by 2034

Matthew Kupfer · CBC News
Posted: Jun 23, 2026 4:03 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago



The National Capital Commission (NCC) has approved planning and design principles for a sixth interprovincial link between Ottawa and Gatineau, but construction remains years away.

The project would connect a corridor from Highway 50 and Montée Paiement in Gatineau, Que., to the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa and eventually Highway 417, with the aim of diverting truck traffic from Ottawa's downtown core.

The NCC's board of directors received an update on the project and approved the planning and design principles document on Tuesday.

NCC staff divided the 11-kilometre corridor into five segments:

1. Montée Paiement between Highway 50 and Maloney Boulevard.
2. Montée Paiement south of Maloney Boulevard to the shore of the Ottawa River.
3. The bridge spanning the Ottawa River with an alignment still to be determined.
4. Aviation Parkway from the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway to the north of Ogilvie Road.
5. Ogilvie Road to the interchange with highway 417 and 174.

The planning and design document sketches out a variety of options for dividing the right of way between general traffic, transit, cycling and pedestrian uses.

Staff said the different segments reflect the local geography, planning priorities and road uses in those areas.

The staff presentation also noted key approval milestones for achieving a 2034 opening, notably approving the corridor and part of the schematic design next year, with the final design by 2029.

Public Services and Procurement Canada is the lead agency on the project.



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/nc...r-6th-bridge-over-ottawa-river-9.7246197

[rocketphish]

All the deets:
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/eastern-bridge-in-the-national-capital-region

EASTERN BRIDGE IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION - Planning and Design Principles

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

All the deets:
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/eastern-bridge-in-the-national-capital-region

EASTERN BRIDGE IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION - Planning and Design Principles

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Hemlock/Beechwood and the Rockcliffe Parkway get protected from any additional traffic impacts by cutting off access.

Also looks like they're struggling to figure out the crossing align in such a way that it doesn't adversely impact the airport operations. Just a big vague oval. Not sure how they are going to pull that without push way far west so that either the new road can go under an elevated SGEC or that the new road can cross above SGEC. Either way, there's also an intersecting aircraft approach to deal with.

Also, there's some vague promise of a grade separated pedestrian crossing down at Ken Steeles park (where there's no no current cross and no real desire line), but not at la Cite where there is actually a lot of crossing pedestrian and cycling traffic.

Finally, traffic on the 417 between the split and downtown should be really fun for everyone once this opens - there's a lot of different things dumping all together in the same spot (plus toss in Tewin and a few 10 of thousands of new units in Orleans south.) We might finally get big city traffic jambs.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Hemlock/Beechwood and the Rockcliffe Parkway get protected from any additional traffic impacts by cutting off access.

This makes some sense but does limit the usefulness a lot. Meanwhile are the Feds now paying for this and it's going ahead?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

This makes some sense but does limit the usefulness a lot.

Hemlock/Beechwood and the Parkway are well served by existing bridges.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Hemlock/Beechwood and the Parkway are well served by existing bridges.

Gatineau to RCMP, GAC, Byward Market,Vanier would all benefit from not having to go all the way south to the 417. The problem isn't the bridge it's the 50 into Gatineau so avoiding that would be a key benefit. The sprawl this bridge will encourage might make that point worse in fact.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

This makes some sense but does limit the usefulness a lot. Meanwhile are the Feds now paying for this and it's going ahead?

Beechwood/Hemlock would be overwhelmed by direct access, as would the westbound Parkway.

[J.OT13]

This overall seems very good. Not providing access to the Parkway is a reasonable decision. The parkways weren't meant to be commuter routes, but scenic drives. same with Hemlock, which is a local street. Does seem Hemlock will be accessible to authorized vehicles.

I'm having trouble figuring out if Montreal and Ogilvie will be accessible. La Cité should absolutely be, but it doesn't seem like it. This might be ok if it gets bus stops, which are only shown as "potential".

If we lost access to GEC via Aviation, it might be worth adding one or two new accesses, like Blair, Wanaki or Codd's that could link up with Marina, otherwise there will be no access between Birch and Orleans.

I would like to have seen a more highwayfication of Monté Paiement.

Here are a few screenshots of the submission. The submission posted by rocketphish is what goes into great detail.