Alexandra Bridge Replacement

The Alexandra Bridge has been an iconic feature of the Ottawa-Gatineau skyline for over 120 years. Originally built for trains, horse and wagons, electric streetcars, and pedestrians, the bridge is now used by thousands of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

The Alexandra Bridge has reached the end of its service life and is due for replacement. The Government of Canada directed that the bridge be replaced to make sure the crossing can service transportation needs well into the future. Ongoing repairs will allow it to remain in use until the start of construction in 2028.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is the federal government department responsible for the management of the Alexandra Bridge, with the NCC acting as partner. The NCC, as part of an integrated project team, is leading a comprehensive engagement process, as well as many studies on this project.

Discover the extensive work and collaboration that is going into replacing this iconic bridge in PSPC’s new story “Getting ready for a new bridge.”

The Alexandra Bridge replacement project is currently in the planning and design stages.

In June 2024, a progress report was presented to the NCC Board of Directors, which included an overview of upcoming milestones. These include public consultations on bridge concept options that will take place in fall 2024.

Technical advisor

In spring 2023, PSPC retained the services of a technical advisor (TA) to coordinate and complete a number of economic, heritage and environmental studies, as well as develop the conceptual designs for the new bridge.

Design framework

The integrated project team (NCC, PSPC and the TA) created a design framework to guide the early design stages. The development of the design is based on several studies and is informed by input from Indigenous communities, the public and stakeholders, as well as expert and review committees.

The team has also developed performance criteria to evaluate the bridge’s final concept design options. These criteria are based on planning and design principles that were the subject of a public consultation in fall 2020 and were approved by the NCC’s board of directors in June 2021.

Independent review panel

In January 2024, at the request of the federal government, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada formed an independent review panel made up of professionals and experts in various fields including, but not limited to, Indigenous culture and values, heritage preservation, architecture, engineering and urban planning.

The panel will review technical aspects and recommend preferred concept design options for the NCC’s board of directors to consider. It will consider feedback from the public advisory group (PAG), public consultations and Indigenous engagement.

When it opened in 1901, the Alexandra Bridge was considered one of the most innovative bridges of its time, linking the cities of Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. It spans the Ottawa River from Kìwekì Point in Ottawa to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. Out of all the interprovincial crossings, the Alexandra Bridge carries approximately 9 percent of vehicular traffic and about 33 percent of active mobility users (e.g. pedestrians, cyclists, users of mobility devices).

The bridge is a major national landmark. It is recognized for its iconic beauty and innovative design. Here is a brief overview of its history.

• 1898–1900: Construction of the Alexandra Bridge, which includes the longest cantilevered span in Canada, by Canadian engineers and designers and the largest steel structure built in North America.
• 1901: The bridge opens to traffic: trains, electric streetcars, horses and wagons, and pedestrians.
• 1946: A major fire destroys about one third of the bridge deck, leading to a major rehabilitation. Streetcar service over the bridge is discontinued.
• 1966: Train use over the bridge ends with the construction of the new Ottawa railway station on Tremblay Road. The train tracks are removed from the bridge in 1970.
• 1995: The bridge is designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Site by the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.
• 2000: The Alexandra Bridge formally becomes a key component of the Confederation Boulevard ceremonial route.
• 2010: A heritage value assessment by PSPC rates the bridge as an engineering asset of national historic importance.
• 2017: The bridge is included in the City of Ottawa’s Heritage Register for its cultural heritage value or interest.
• 2018: A lifecycle cost analysis determines that replacing the bridge would be less disruptive to the public than trying to maintain the existing bridge and would also be more cost effective.
• 2019: The Government of Canada directs that the bridge be replaced within 10 years.
• 2019: Pre-planning for a replacement bridge begins.
• 2021: The bridge is added to the National Trust for Canada’s Endangered Places List.

Replacement of the Alexandra Bridge involves the following three stages.

The new bridge will be designed in a way that allows for active transportation, public transit and personal vehicles.

The following requirements reflect some of the input received in the first round of consultations.

1. Two lanes for vehicle traffic (one in each direction) that could later be adapted for a high-capacity transit system.
2. One two-way lane for active transportation (pedestrians, cyclists and mobility device users), with clear separation of pedestrians and cyclists, on the west side of the bridge. It should include seating to provide safe and unobstructed rest points and viewing locations.
3. All lanes will have a solid surface to protect the bridge from the elements, de-icing products and dirt. This will allow for a longer-lasting structure.

The vision for the new structure is to create a bridge as a unique civic place, reflective of Canadian values and identity, and respectful of the integrity of the national capital’s cultural landscapes.

The following guiding principles will provide additional direction on the design of the new bridge in the areas of planning, heritage protection, urban design and sustainability.

During the first round of consultations in fall 2020, over 3,000 participants provided feedback on these principles. In June 2021, the NCC Board of Directors approved them.

Mobility and continuity of the urban fabric

Public space and civic experiences

Structure, height, proportions and lighting

Preservation of views and celebration of the bridge’s legacy

Sustainability and materiality

Universal accessibility, legibility and wayfinding

Alexandra Bridge planning and design principles

The replacement of the Alexandra Bridge is a unique opportunity to reimagine this vital connection between Ottawa and Gatineau. We are analyzing the many impacts this project could have and are looking for solutions.

Traffic

Careful consideration will be given to the impact that construction activities will have on vehicle and active transportation, traffic management operations, public and private transit operators, emergency services, residents, and businesses in the vicinity of the bridge.

Environment and sustainability

The replacement of the bridge will be planned to optimize health and safety, environmental protection, and the principles of sustainable development, including resilience, low carbon emissions and waste reduction.

The project team will conduct further studies to understand the potential impacts of the project, for example, on fisheries, archaeology and wildlife.

Life, work and recreation

The replacement of the bridge will be planned to limit the effects of construction (e.g. noise, vibration, dust) and other disruptions to nearby communities, residents and businesses, and visitors to the region.

There may be temporary impacts on access to neighbouring green spaces and the Ottawa River.

• Neighbouring boat launch, wharf and marina: We recognize the importance of recreational and commercial boating in the area and will continue to engage with the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities on this matter.

The project is subject to the NCC’s federal approval process.

The purpose of the NCC’s federal land use, design and transaction approval (FLUDTA) review process is to support the protection of the character and national significance of the Capital.

Given the significance and complexity of the Alexandra Bridge replacement project, the FLUDTA process will involve a series of sequential approvals to be considered by the NCC Board of Directors at key milestones of the early bridge design.

The NCC’s Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Realty will also provide feedback at key design milestones. The committee consists of experts in real estate development; environmental, urban and regional planning; urban design; architecture; and landscape architecture.

There will be several opportunities for members of the public, stakeholders and Indigenous communities to provide feedback throughout the various stages of the project. There will be a minimum of five rounds of public consultation, while Indigenous engagement will occur throughout the project phases.

This first round of consultations revealed four key themes:

• the preservation and commemoration of heritage elements and reflection of Indigenous heritage and values, as well as honouring 2SLGBTQI+ lives;
• the importance of building relationships with impacted businesses and residents, and continued engagement throughout the project;
• suggestions to find innovative ways to reduce project impacts, for example, environmental, construction and economic;
• the need for better connections between the bridge, surrounding neighbourhoods and tourist destinations in the area.

Indigenous engagement

A team composed of PSPC and NCC employees has been engaging with 19 communities and organizations, including the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn and Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg communities.

Community-led activities are taking place to support the project. This includes activities relating to project impacts, including ecological, socioeconomical, heritage and archeology. We are also engaging on the design of the new bridge and economic participation.

Upcoming public consultations

The next round of public consultations is anticipated to launch in fall 2024. At that time, partners, stakeholders and the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the process and provide feedback on each concept design option. The comments will be considered in the panel’s recommendation of a preferred concept design option.

Public advisory group

Since the public advisory group (PAG) was created in fall 2023, the PAG met on two occasions to learn more about different aspects of the project and studies underway, as well as to provide feedback on design objectives, engagement activities and the bridge’s cultural landscape.

Project newsletter

We will send quarterly updates to the project newsletter list. To join our mailing list, please email consultations@ncc-ccn.ca.