The NCC is repairing and repaving the Champlain Bridge. The bridge has not undergone major reconstruction since it was widened to a three-lane crossing in 2002. Currently, various components of the bridge require rehabilitation as part of life cycle repair and maintenance.

Public access and safety will be maintained during construction.

Impact of construction on traffic

The bridge will remain open during construction, with as minimal impact and disruption as possible to vehicle, cycling and pedestrian traffic.

  • Vehicles: Two lanes will remain open during construction, one in each direction.
  • Cyclists and pedestrians: a sidewalk for pedestrians and a bike lane for cyclists will be accessible during construction.

About the project

The following work is needed, so that the Champlain Bridge remains accessible and safe for public use.

  • 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
  • Enhanced safety for cyclists

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.

Process and timeline

Planning for the Champlain Bridge rehabilitation project started in 2020. The design has been completed and construction work began in summer 2022 and will be completed in the fall of 2023.

Phase 1: August 2022 to November 2022: Repairs to west side of the bridge

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

Public engagement

The NCC is engaging with community and cycling groups to share information about this project.

About the bridge

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

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