Kettle Island Bridge | Planning Stage

[harls]

The land is still mostly available for that 5-50 shortcut as well. Same for the corridor thru Aylmer (which will probably never happen in all honesty).

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by harls

The land is still mostly available for that 5-50 shortcut as well. Same for the corridor thru Aylmer (which will probably never happen in all honesty).

Unless they bore a tunnel under Gatineau Park, I'm not interested.

Could still do that A50-A5 link Kitchissippi is proposing, along with a 416 to Alum link.

[urbanforest]

It boggles my mind that the intention is not to bar trucks from King Edward after this bridge is built.

Does anyone know if there would be a legal reason that the City of Ottawa couldn’t simply ban trucks from King Edward/Nicholas/St. Patrick after this bridge is built?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by urbanforest

It boggles my mind that the intention is not to bar trucks from King Edward after this bridge is built.

Does anyone know if there would be a legal reason that the City of Ottawa couldn’t simply ban trucks from King Edward/Nicholas/St. Patrick after this bridge is built?

My only guess would be to allow trucks that have business within Downtown Ottawa.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

My only guess would be to allow trucks that have business within Downtown Ottawa.

Which is a fairly high portion of the existing truck traffic. Banning trucks from Chaudiere and KE would also create some very significant detours from trucks travelling from the industrial areas around the QC5 to the 417 west and 416.

I think people need to keep in mind that this new corridor will replace the existing KE corridor and it's 11 signalized intersections with a new longer corridor with 12 to 14 signalized intersections (depending on what the plan is for SGEC and CMHC.) And for vehicles travelling westbound, particularly in the am period, will introduce significant delay due to traffic congestion between the merge with the 417 and the King Edward exit.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

Which is a fairly high portion of the existing truck traffic. Banning trucks from Chaudiere and KE would also create some very significant detours from trucks travelling from the industrial areas around the QC5 to the 417 west and 416.

I think people need to keep in mind that this new corridor will replace the existing KE corridor and it's 11 signalized intersections with a new longer corridor with 12 to 14 signalized intersections (depending on what the plan is for SGEC and CMHC.) And for vehicles travelling westbound, particularly in the am period, will introduce significant delay due to traffic congestion between the merge with the 417 and the King Edward exit.

Has there been a study of where truck traffic is destined?

The point is to get unnecessary truck traffic out of downtown.

The side benefit (and I would argue an even more important benefit) is to improve overall connectivity of the city.

It is also possible to remove unnecessary private vehicles running through downtown that will have a more direct route between east Gatineau and east Ottawa and a less congested route from Gatineau to Highway 417 east.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

My only guess would be to allow trucks that have business within Downtown Ottawa.

I can't see why anything with more than four wheels/above a specified weight couldn't be banned.

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Has there been a study of where truck traffic is destined?

The point is to get unnecessary truck traffic out of downtown.

The side benefit (and I would argue an even more important benefit) is to improve overall connectivity of the city.

It is also possible to remove unnecessary private vehicles running through downtown that will have a more direct route between east Gatineau and east Ottawa and a less congested route from Gatineau to Highway 417 east.

It's here: https://www.ssd-ottawa.ca/interprovincial-truck-studies

6% of existing truck traffic is long distance through traffic.

Anticipated diversion is 40%, with the remaining 60% having KE as the shorter router between origin and destination.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The side benefit (and I would argue an even more important benefit) is to improve overall connectivity of the city.

It is also possible to remove unnecessary private vehicles running through downtown that will have a more direct route between east Gatineau and east Ottawa and a less congested route from Gatineau to Highway 417 east.

100%. It's a pain to have to go through Downtown anytime I need to go to the east side of the Gatineau River. There's a significant amount of students, worker and patients that make that huge detour to get to east end Federal complexes, La Cité and Montfort.

It's not just for trucks, but to reduce congestion through Downtown.

For the truck traffic, we can encourage the use of Kettle with tolls; put higher tolls on MC than Kettle and Bob's you're uncle. I would not toll passenger cars because we don't have a good, reliable transit alternative.

[lrt's friend]

imagine a new Rapibus route crossing the new bridge, connecting to the Montfort Hospital , the various federal facilities and Blair Station. A monumental improvement in transit connectivity. This will cut transit travel times to and from the east half of Gatineau by two thirds or more making transit a viable commute for many people and getting cars off the MC bridge and many Ottawa streets going to the east end.

A Kettle Island crossing has always been a no brainer. Just make it a beautiful bridge, a landmark, and make it for everybody, not just truckers. Even strategic viewing locations over the river for pedestrians and cyclists. It should have the best lighting of any Ottawa bridge that can have light shows

I want it to be a wow, not an ugly freeway bridge

Regarding truck studies, this is a reflection of past behaviour. Some trucks may experience longer. travel times, others will benefit. Give out electronic permits to trucks destined for central Ottawa allowing free crossing of the MC bridge otherwise a high electronic toll or an even higher fine for abusers. Signs would be posted that an electronic transponder is required for a truck over a certain size to cross the bridge and cameras to catch abusers.

In the longer term, eliminate one traffic lane on King Edward in each direction and turn it into a grand allee. A big 'Welcome to Ottawa' LED sign overhanging King Edward after coming off the MC bridge instead of those speed cameras that were p*ssing everybody off.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

imagine a new Rapibus route crossing the new bridge, connecting to the Montfort Hospital , the various federal facilities and Blair Station. A monumental improvement in transit connectivity. This will cut transit travel times to and from the east half of Gatineau by two thirds or more making transit a viable commute for many people and getting cars off the MC bridge and many Ottawa streets going to the east end.

A Kettle Island crossing has always been a no brainer. Just make it a beautiful bridge, a landmark, and make it for everybody, not just truckers. Even strategic viewing locations over the river for pedestrians and cyclists. It should have the best lighting of any Ottawa bridge that can have light shows

I want it to be a wow, not an ugly freeway bridge

Regarding truck studies, this is a reflection of past behaviour. Some trucks may experience longer. travel times, others will benefit. Give out electronic permits to trucks destined for central Ottawa allowing free crossing of the MC bridge otherwise a high electronic toll or an even higher fine for abusers. Signs would be posted that an electronic transponder is required for a truck over a certain size to cross the bridge and cameras to catch abusers.

In the longer term, eliminate one traffic lane on King Edward in each direction and turn it into a grand allee. A big 'Welcome to Ottawa' LED sign overhanging King Edward after coming off the MC bridge instead of those speed cameras that were p*ssing everybody off.

THIS! All of THIS!!

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

. . . I would not toll passenger cars because we don't have a good, reliable transit alternative.

If we tolled passenger cars, maybe we could pay for a good reliable transit alternative?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

If we tolled passenger cars, maybe we could pay for a good reliable transit alternative?

We'd need a good 100km of rapid transit to do that. Tolling passenger cars won't get us there any time soon.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

It's here: https://www.ssd-ottawa.ca/interprovincial-truck-studies

6% of existing truck traffic is long distance through traffic.

Anticipated diversion is 40%, with the remaining 60% having KE as the shorter router between origin and destination.

Truck diversion depends primarily on where the “no truck” signs are placed. It has nothing to do with the preferences of truckers. Also, a lot of these studies have a very broad definition of truck that includes smaller delivery trucks, which is not the main concern.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

It's here: https://www.ssd-ottawa.ca/interprovincial-truck-studies

6% of existing truck traffic is long distance through traffic.

Anticipated diversion is 40%, with the remaining 60% having KE as the shorter router between origin and destination.

Yes with growth it will be basically the amount of trucks we have now though perhaps more smaller aututnumous vehicles replace some of that.

I theoretically benefit as I walk across the King Edward and Rideau intersections almost everyday but if you think truck car truck car truck will be easier than truck truck car truck truck I really don't agree. The noise and danger remains.

The whole project is about commuters. That is the only capacity constraint and why the project adds little value to Ottawa as it faciliates losing our tax base. This is why they will never add a toll as it would impeded commuting and don't forget every coridoor has people opposed. Le Breton Flats, Island Park and yes the evil Nimbys on Aviation all want less cars and especially trucks in their neighbourhood.

[dougvdh]

Project update. Borehole drilling has now occurred at the following locations:
- southwest Aviation at Ogilvie
- northwest Aviation at Montreal
- northwest Aviation at Hemlock (ongoing, drill rig was located here this morning).

That's in addition to the previously noted locations at P5 (SGEC), and along the SGEC northeast of the RCMP stable. There may be other locations that I haven't noticed.

[J.OT13]

Testing underway. NIMBYs freaking out.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/testing-underway-for-proposed-eastern-ottawa-gatineau-bridge/

[dougvdh]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Testing underway. NIMBYs freaking out.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/testing-underway-for-proposed-eastern-ottawa-gatineau-bridge/

Bit of delayed response . . . there's been a big yellow drilling rig crawling around for a couple weeks now.

I'm still guessing the really big freakout will come when the design showing the bridge landing near Birch Ave is released.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by dougvdh

Bit of delayed response . . . there's been a big yellow drilling rig crawling around for a couple weeks now.

I'm still guessing the really big freakout will come when the design showing the bridge landing near Birch Ave is released.

So are the Feds proposing to pay for all of the bridge or only this phase?

I think it will be hard to turn down a free bridge but no way Ontario agrees to pitch in. Someone like Ford might have blocked it even with Federal funding if it wasn't one of the most pro Liberal ridings around. I guess Ottawa doesn't have that power.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

So are the Feds proposing to pay for all of the bridge or only this phase?

I think it will be hard to turn down a free bridge but no way Ontario agrees to pitch in. Someone like Ford might have blocked it even with Federal funding if it wasn't one of the most pro Liberal ridings around. I guess Ottawa doesn't have that power.

I think the feds own all of the other interprovincial bridges. I don't believe they asked for provincial contributions to any of them.