Question Period Note: LaSalle Causeway Construction Incident

The Lasalle Causeway’s Bascule Bridge has been closed since March 30 due to a construction incident, resulting in disruption to local traffic and marine navigation.

• Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) understands that the LaSalle Causeway is an important transportation link for vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, as well as corridor for telecommunication utilities. We also appreciate the importance of the LaSalle Causeway to enable marine navigation, by enabling access to the inner harbour, outer harbour, and the Rideau Canal

• Following the results of a recent laser survey on the Bascule Bridge, analysis indicates that the remaining life has been significantly reduced as a result of the construction incident. Given extended repair delays, the outstanding risk to return to normal operations, and the reduced life, PSPC has decided to advance the demolition and removal of the Bascule Bridge
• PSPC conducted a limited tendering process for the demolition and removal of the Bascule Bridge and awarded, on June 4, 2024, a contract valued at $1.7 million to Priestly Demolition Inc. of King, Ontario

If pressed on reopening of the channel:

• As a result of this decision, PSPC anticipates reopening the channel for marine navigation by June 30. PSPC is also developing a plan to restore vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian access through a temporary modular bridge solution
• In parallel, PSPC is preparing to commence preliminary design work to advance the construction of a new replacement bridge. Input will be sought from the City of Kingston to ensure that any replacement bridge will meet the needs of the City and its citizens

The LaSalle Causeway is located in Kingston, Ontario, near the Cataraqui River. It is part of Provincial Highway 2 and is the main artery connecting the City of Kingston to its eastern suburbs. The Royal Military College, CFB Kingston, and the historic site of Fort Henry are also on the east side of the causeway.

When operational, approximately 23,000 vehicles cross the causeway daily. The bridge is lifted to allow for marine traffic including cruise lines that support Kingston’s economy, noting that lifting for marine traffic is restricted during vehicle rush hours. The Bascule Bridge completes an average of 900 lifts in its annual operating season from early May to late October. With its urban setting, it also connects cyclists and pedestrians to and from Kingston’s downtown core.

The causeway was built in 1917 and consists of seven interconnecting engineered structures: two fixed bridges at each end of the causeway, a bascule bridge that lifts to allow vessels to pass the causeway, two wharfs, and two approaches. The west wharf contains the site office and workshop for the bridge and the operator control station for the lift bridge.

A repair project for the Bascule Bridge was scheduled to occur during the periods from November 2023 to April 2024, and from November 2024 to April 2025, and aimed to extend the service life of certain components of the Bascule Bridge by 30 years (namely, the concrete counterweight, the structural steel around the main trunnion, and the steel deck grating).

On March 30, 2024, during the performance of the repair work, a key supporting steel bridge element buckled. Due to safety considerations, this resulted in the bridge being fully closed to all public access (including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians), and precluded the ability to lift the Bascule Bridge to allow for marine navigation.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has been working closely with the City of Kingston to facilitate communication, and to minimize and mitigate traffic impacts to residents as a result of the construction incident.

As a result of the incident, PSPC carefully considered a variety of alternate approaches beyond pursuing repairs, including the removal of the causeway’s East span, and demolishing the damaged Bascule Bridge.

• A repair project for the Bascule Bridge was scheduled from November 2023 to April 2024, and from November 2024 to April 2025
• On March 30, 2024, a key supporting steel bridge element buckled. The bridge was fully closed to all public access and it was no longer able to lift to allow for marine navigation