National Capital Region bridges: Committee of the Whole—July 8, 2020
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Context
Budget 2019 provided funding to replace the Alexandra Bridge, support for rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance of the MacDonald-Cartier Bridge and the Chaudière Crossing, as well as the directive to refresh studies on a potential 6th interprovincial crossing in the National Capital Region (NCR), and develop a Long-term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan.
Suggested response
- The government will continue to improve crossings in the NCR
- Work continues to advance on budget 2019 commitments to replace the Alexandra Bridge, and we are addressing the demonstrated need for an additional NCR crossing with a Long-term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan led by the National Capital Commission (NCC)
- Funding has been allocated to the NCC to help address the maintenance and rehabilitation requirements of their 2 interprovincial crossings, the Champlain and Portage bridges
- As well, we are investing to rehabilitate and maintain other existing crossings, including the Chaudière and Macdonald-Cartier bridges
If pressed on a sixth crossing:
- the budget 2019 commitment of refreshing existing studies on a potential sixth crossing has been completed, the public release of a summary report coincided with a presentation of the results of the refresh studies to the NCC Board of Directors on June 25, 2020
- the refresh will inform any future considerations of the sixth crossing project. Further planning would include an impact assessment, which includes comprehensive consultation with the public, municipal and provincial, and Indigenous partners, and would leverage the results of the Long-term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan due to be completed in late 2021
If pressed on replacing the Alexandra Bridge:
- a 2017 life cycle cost analysis looked at the options for investing in the Alexandra Bridge over the long term
- the study determined that replacing the bridge would be less disruptive to the public than trying to maintain the existing bridge, while also being more cost effective
- given this, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has begun activities related to planning, impact assessment and design
- its replacement has become more critical after inspectors found an unexpected structural flaw which forced the bridge’s closure from May 1 to 23 for emergency repairs
- planning, design and construction of a new crossing to replace the Alexandra Bridge is expected to take up to 10 years. In the meantime, inspections and repair work continue to ensure the bridge remains safe and accessible until it is replaced
If pressed on the program of work:
PSPC is working closely with the NCC and the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau, and other partners, to ensure that federal bridges in the NCR are safely and effectively serving Canadians, and that required lane closures are properly co-ordinated.
If pressed on the Long-term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan:
- the NCC is responsible for the Long-term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, la Ville de Gatineau, provinces of Ontario and Quebec, transit authorities, and other stakeholders
- the NCC awarded a contract to IBI Group Inc. in spring 2020 to propose a long term transportation strategy for the future of sustainable interprovincial travel in the NCR
- the plan will confirm the vision, policies and infrastructure priorities for sustainable interprovincial travel for a 2050 planning horizon. It will also act as a comprehensive blueprint to support decision-making at all levels of government to achieve integrated and coordinated multi-modal interprovincial transportation
- the plan will go through a first round of public consultations in late 2020. The final version of the lan is expected in late 2021
Background
There are 5 crossings in the NCR. PSPC manages and operates the Alexandra Bridge (built in 1900), Chaudière Crossing (portions built in 1828, and Union Bridge built in 1919) and the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge (built in 1965). The NCC manages and operates the Champlain Bridge (built in 1928) and the Portage Bridge (built in 1973).
The 5 crossings are currently at full capacity at peak travel periods (average daily traffic on all crossings: 187,000 vehicles daily; 9,000 using active transportation). Transportation studies conducted over the last 10 years have consistently shown that the existing Ottawa River crossings and connecting roadways are at full capacity during morning and evening peak travel times.
Alexandra Bridge condition
A 2017 third-party life-cycle cost assessment concluded that replacing the 120-year-old Alexandra Bridge is the most cost-effective alternative, as it will have reached the end of its life span within the next 10 years. A recent structural evaluation of the bridge (completed in March 2020) revealed that due to the deterioration of several bridge members, load restrictions were required. Its replacement has become more critical after inspectors found an unexpected structural flaw, which forced the bridge’s closure from May 1 to 23 for emergency repairs. Other repair projects are planned and will be completed to ensure the bridge remains safe and accessible until its replacement.
Sixth crossing
Budget 2019 directed the NCC to “Address the demonstrated need for an additional NCR crossing by refreshing existing studies and developing a long-term integrated interprovincial crossing plan with both provincial governments and the cities of Gatineau and Ottawa.” Additional crossings could help to reduce congestion, improve fluidity and increase transportation options throughout the region.
Long Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan
Budget 2019 also announced that the NCC would lead the development of a Long- term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan. The result of this plan will be a long-term strategy with a vision and approaches for all parties to build on past successes and move forward to meet new and emerging challenges. The plan will set long-term targets as well as provide options on how we may achieve the vision, and address the following issues:
- sustainable choices of interprovincial mobility
- regional transition toward low-carbon and climate-resilient mobility networks/systems
- improving interprovincial mobility of people and “people capacity”
- alternatives for interprovincial heavy truck movement in the core area
Timing
The study refresh on a potential sixth crossing has been completed while the Long-Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossing Plan is expected to be completed in late 2021.
We are at the preliminary phase of the Alexandra Bridge replacement project which includes environmental studies and assessments, as required by the Impact Assessment Act.
Other bridge projects
In addition to the studies and projects listed above, the government supported the rehabilitation and ongoing maintenance of the NCR crossings, including the Alexandra Bridge, Chaudière Crossing and Macdonald-Cartier Bridge in budget 2019 over 10 years.
Through the approval of Supplementary Estimates A, the NCC received additional appropriations from parliament to address the condition of its assets. Included in this funding was an investment to address the maintenance and rehabilitation requirements of the Champlain and the Portage bridges. Those projects are set to commence in 2020.
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