Chaudière Crossing: Union Bridge rehabilitation and Hull Causeway widening

Hull Causeway widening

The Hull Causeway widening will provide dedicated cyclist lanes and a wider sidewalk across the entire Chaudière Crossing as part of a complete street concept that will be in harmony with the Zibi development project and the remainder of the crossing. The cyclist lanes will be raised, and a new lighting system will be installed, which will improve cyclist safety.

Union Bridge rehabilitation

The Union Bridge is a single-span steel truss with an exposed concrete deck and has been in service for over 100 years. While the bridge has undergone rehabilitation a number of times, several steel and concrete components are at the end of their useful lives and therefore require repair or replacement.

Key milestones

Work on the Chaudière Crossing will take place from March 7, 2022, to July 24, 2023. During this period, the southbound lane on the crossing will be closed to vehicular traffic. Also, the crossing will be fully closed to vehicular traffic from Friday, March 31, at 8 pm to July 24, 2023. To minimize the impact and disruption for active users, public transit and motorists, the northbound lane (Ottawa to Gatineau) will reopen during weekdays from 3 to 6 pm, beginning May 5.

Impact on traffic

Traffic will be limited during the construction period to public transit, northbound traffic to Gatineau and active transportation.

• Pedestrians will still have access through the construction zone.
• Cyclists will have to dismount and walk through the construction zone.
• Traffic from Gatineau to Ottawa:
  • Only OC Transpo buses will go southbound through the construction zone, and traffic signal control will be used to alternate the direction of traffic flow.
  • Traffic from the Portage Power facility to Ottawa will be allowed through traffic signal control.
  • All other southbound vehicles will need to use an alternative bridge to cross to Ottawa.
• Traffic from Ottawa to Gatineau:
  • Northbound travel will be maintained at all times within the Chaudière Crossing.
  • However, trucks in excess of 33 tonnes will be detoured to the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge during the construction period.

Photo gallery

Panoramic view of the Union Bridge over the Ottawa River with the Parliament buildings in the background.

Chaudière Crossing structure

The Chaudière Crossing passes over the Ottawa River and several hydroelectric waterways. It unites the communities of Gatineau, Quebec, and Ottawa, Ontario. This crossing links Eddy Street, in Hull, to Booth Street in Ottawa.

The Chaudière Crossing is a complex structure consisting of 8 parts:

• Bronson channel span (also known as the Rafting Channel Bridge)
• Ottawa hydroelectric power commission channel span (also known as the power channel or the Lost Channel Bridge)
• Buchanan channel span
• Union Bridge (also known as Chaudière Bridge)
• Arch number 1
• Arch number 3
• Hull trestle
• Hull Causeway Bridge

All the water in the Ottawa River flows under the 8 structures and through a variety of waterways intended to harness the hydroelectric power of the river.

Overview of the Chaudière Crossing showing the 8 parts of its structure.

History of the bridge

• The Chaudière Crossing is the oldest crossing in the National Capital Region and was first opened to the public in the 1820s.
• The oldest structure on the crossing is the Union Bridge, which was replaced in 1919.
• The crossing had 4 of its structures replaced in the 1970s, 2 in 2008 and 1 in 2011.