News Release

Published on June 25, 2020


The National Capital Commission (NCC) today presented its Board of Directors the technical findings from the refresh of the 2013 technical studies on three potential corridors for a sixth interprovincial crossing between the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau.

As mandated in the 2019 federal budget, the purpose of the work was to refresh technical studies previously undertaken by the NCC to address new transportation data, updated air quality modelling techniques, land use and property plans, and other socio-economic data. It does not include a recommendation for a specific corridor.

The refresh of the 2013 studies considered only technical elements of a potential sixth interprovincial crossing. It pertained to eight technical reports on the following three interprovincial crossing locations that were previously identified as having the most potential:

  • Kettle Island (Corridor 5), which extends from Highway 50 and along Montée Paiement in Gatineau, connects at the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa, and extends to Highway 417.
  • Lower Duck Island (Corridor 6), which extends from Highway 50 and along Lorrain Boulevard in Gatineau, and connects at Highway 174 at the Montreal Road ramp.
  • McLaurin Bay (Corridor 7), which extends from Highway 50 and along a new road located east of the Gatineau airport, and meets the Corridor 6 alignment for the Ottawa side.

These refreshed technical studies will inform any future considerations of this project. Further planning work would include an impact assessment that provides for comprehensive consultation with the public and stakeholders, as well as leveraging the results of the long-term integrated interprovincial crossing plan.

Long-term integrated interprovincial crossing plan

As per Budget 2019, the NCC is developing a long-term integrated interprovincial crossing plan that will confirm the vision, policies and infrastructure priorities for sustainable interprovincial travel for the 2050 planning horizon.

This plan will be a comprehensive blueprint to support integrated and coordinated multi-modal interprovincial transportation decision making by the City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau, the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the federal government. This work is therefore being undertaken in collaboration with these partners.

The plan will consider major mobility trends, long-term transportation needs and the plans of municipal partners, as well as major societal trends such as climate change and types of future mobility. The impacts of COVID-19 on regional transportation behaviour will also be considered in its development.

The NCC recognizes the importance of the role that key stakeholders and the public play in interprovincial transportation, and is committed to develop and conduct comprehensive engagement and consultations. A first round of public consultations is expected to begin in September 2020.

More information will be available soon.

Backgrounder – Summary of Findings
Interprovincial Crossings – Refresh of Technical Studies

The goal of the refresh was to update eight environmental and technical reports from 2013. The studies that were refreshed pertain to three corridors found to have the highest potential for a crossing prior to 2013.

The following is a summary of the findings.

Transportation Study

  • Major findings remain largely unchanged from previous analysis
  • C5 found to attract the most transit trips
  • C6 found to attract the most traffic to new bridge as well as away from existing bridges
  • C5 found to attract the most truck trips

Noise and Vibration Report

  • Consistent with 2013 findings
  • C7 to have the least impact

Air Quality Report

  • Consistent with 2013 findings
  • C5 expected to have the lowest concentration of pollutants, followed by C7 then C6

Land Use and Property Report

  • C6 found to impact the least area, marginally followed by C5 and C7
  • 2013 report C5 had the smallest area of impact

Economic Development Potential Study

  • Consistent with 2013 findings
  • C7 has the most potential for new jobs

Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Report

  • Relatively unchanged

Natural Environment Report and Addendum

  • C5 and C6 found to have the least constraints
  • Both present moderate constraints

Indigenous History Report

  • No constraints with any corridor


Media Information:

Mario Tremblay
NCC Media Relations
613-859-9596
mario.tremblay@ncc-ccn.ca

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