Question Period Note: Alexandra Bridge

Public Services and Procurement Canada is replacing the Alexandra Bridge as part of its responsibility to maintain and renew interprovincial infrastructure in the National Capital Region.

• The new bridge will improve active transportation capacity and safety, and may support high-capacity transit in the future
• As per Budget 2019, Public Services and Procurement Canada is working in collaboration with the National Capital Commission to design a replacement for the Alexandra Bridge
• The National Capital Commission is the lead in a multiphase engagement approach that facilitate information sharing on the project, solicit feedback, and identify any concerns from the public, cities and provinces
• The approval of the final design of the replacement bridge is granted by the National Capital Act to the National Capital Commission

There are five federal vehicular interprovincial crossings in the National Capital Region. Public Services and Procurement Canada manages and operates the Alexandra Bridge (built in 1901), Chaudière Crossing (with the Union Bridge, built in 1919, being the oldest of the 8 structures that together constitute the crossing) and the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge (built in 1965). The National Capital Commission manages and operates the Champlain Bridge (built in 1928) and the Portage Bridge (built in 1973).

Opened in 1901, the Alexandra Bridge is an important part of the National Capital Region’s transportation network as it connects the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Approximately 18,000 vehicles cross the bridge when in operation. This accounts for approximately 9% of the vehicle traffic on the interprovincial bridges in the National Capital Region. The bridge is also used by about 27% of all pedestrians and cyclists crossing the river, one of the highest used of all the interprovincial bridges.

Time, exposure to natural elements and salt, as well as continued and growing usage, have taken their toll on the bridge despite Public Services and Procurement Canada’s best efforts to maintain the bridge. The new bridge will be designed to avoid corrosion-prone details. This will help ensure it can be maintained in good condition for a long period and serve many generations.

• A Request for Qualifications for the Alexandra Bridge replacement project was launched on October 7th and is currently scheduled to close on January 24, 2025
• Public Services and Procurement Canada and the National Capital Commission publicly released 3 design concepts for the replacement bridge for consultation in October 2024
• Despite the intention to replace the bridge between 2028 and 2032, some repair work is necessary to keep the existing bridge safe for use in the interim
• The existing bridge is scheduled to reopen to vehicular traffic in February 2025