Champlain Bridge Rehabilitation

The NCC is repairing and repaving the Champlain Bridge. The project is part of a lifecycle repair project to sustain the bridge and improve safety.

The repaving was successfully completed in the summer 2023. The bridge is currently fully reopened.

The next and final phase of the project consists of installing low-wall barriers between vehicular lanes and bike lanes to improve cyclist safety.

This phase will begin in May 2024. The bridge is expected to remain open and should cause minimal disruption to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. 

The following work was completed:

• Full and partial depth removal of asphalt
• Concrete deck repairs and miscellaneous concrete repairs
• Waterproofing
• Repaving of the asphalt surface
• Repair and replacement of expansion joints

Improving cycling safety

The NCC will enhance the existing cycle track to a higher level of safety. The bicycle lanes will remain unidirectional at street level, with buffering, curbing, delineators, and improved signage and lane markings.

Planning for the Champlain Bridge rehabilitation project started in 2020. Repairs and repaving work began in summer 2022 and was completed in the summer of 2023.

Phase 1 - Summer-fall 2022: Repairs to west side of the bridge

Phase 2 - Spring-summer 2023: Repairs to the middle section and east side of the bridge

Phase 3 - Spring 2024: Bike lane enhancements

The NCC is engaging with community and cycling groups to share information about these projects.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the NCC’s client services at 613-239-5000 or info@ncc-ccn.ca.

The Champlain Bridge was built between 1924 and 1928. The bridge connects the Kichi Zībī Mīkan in Ottawa and Chemin d’Aylmer in Gatineau. It is one of five interprovincial bridges in Canada’s National Capital Region.

In 2002, the bridge was widened, and a new deck and beams were built. The number of lanes on the bridge was increased from two to three. It has:

• One lane in each direction
• One reversible bidirectional high-occupancy vehicle lane
• One cycling lane in each direction
• One bidirectional sidewalk.

The bridge carries approximately 22 percent of all interprovincial motor vehicle traffic and 5 percent of all pedestrians and cyclists in the region across the Ottawa River. 

This project is part of the NCC’s major infrastructure projects made possible with the Government of Canada’s $52.4-million investment from the 2020 federal budget.