Gatineau residents invited to help shape plans for new eastern bridge

Tashi Farmilo

The first round of public consultation for the proposed eastern bridge offers residents a direct opportunity to influence a project that could alter cross-river transportation between Gatineau and Ottawa. Open through July 10, the consultation invites feedback on early planning and design principles, marking a shift from technical preparation to broader community involvement.

Planned for the Montée Paiement to Aviation Parkway corridor, the bridge would be the sixth interprovincial crossing in the region and the first to serve the eastern sector. It is being developed by an integrated project team led by Public Services and Procurement Canada in collaboration with the National Capital Commission. The route, identified as the most technically suitable option after years of study, is intended to divert heavy truck traffic away from central urban areas and improve safety, accessibility and overall network capacity.

Steven MacKinnon, Member of Parliament for Gatineau and the government's Chief Whip, has emerged as a prominent voice in support of the project. He has pointed to the daily volume of freight traffic in downtown Ottawa, particularly near the ByWard Market and social service centres such as Shepherds of Good Hope, as evidence that the current situation is unsustainable. MacKinnon has described the bridge as a necessary response to long-standing safety and mobility concerns in the capital.

Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Kanata–Carleton, has also expressed support. She has emphasised the importance of relocating freight routes away from residential streets, arguing that such changes would protect communities and contribute to a cleaner and quieter downtown environment. Her comments have positioned the bridge within a wider effort to future-proof the region’s infrastructure.

Public Services and Procurement Canada has retained engineering firms Parsons and Stantec as technical advisors during this phase of planning. Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, who oversees the department, has described their role as central to the environmental, economic and design studies now underway. According to Duclos, this early analysis is intended to ensure the project is based on sound planning and incorporates feedback gathered through public engagement.

The consultation is occurring alongside the ongoing update of the Long-Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan, which sets out strategies for transportation across the Ottawa River through to 2050. The revised plan includes recent data from the Origin-Destination Survey and interprovincial truck mobility studies and reflects post-pandemic shifts in commuting and goods movement.

The current interprovincial crossings, such as the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, are approaching peak capacity during morning and afternoon rush hours. Roughly 3,500 trucks cross the river each day, the majority through central routes not designed for heavy freight. By providing a new corridor aligned with existing roads in the east, the proposed bridge is expected to reduce congestion, improve safety and strengthen regional connectivity without requiring significant new land disturbance.

Responses collected through the survey will inform the project description to be submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Additional public advisory sessions are scheduled for later in the year, continuing the government’s phased approach to engagement. Residents can access the survey online: https://ncc-ccn.questionpro.ca/a/TakeSurvey?tt=7/bW%2B1darq5FM65wPizNOA%3D%3D