A first eastern bridge to be built in National Capital Region
Feb. 05, 2025
Global Korean Post
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3,500 trucks cross the Ottawa River every day, and 72% of them use the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge (Interprovincial Truck Mobility Data Collection in the National Capital Region – National Capital Commission).
All interprovincial links between Gatineau and Ottawa are at or near maximum capacity, particularly the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, which is crossed by an average of 70,000 vehicles daily (2023).
In its 2024 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada reiterated its commitment to building a multimodal bridge in the eastern part of the National Capital Region to optimize public transit networks, reduce truck traffic in congested downtown areas, stimulate economic growth in Gatineau and Ottawa, speed up commutes and improve the safety of active transportation.
This new interprovincial crossing could be built between 2032 and 2034, depending on the impact assessment process and the construction program approach. The Eastern Bridge is part of a forward-looking vision to improve interprovincial transportation mobility and connectivity, meeting the needs of the region’s growing population.
Because the project will build on existing roads, the Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor has the smallest link footprint, and offers a faster planning schedule and better proximity to existing commercial properties on both sides of the Ottawa River, which will benefit from access to the Eastern Bridge. Residents will have access to diversified mobility options tailored to their needs, including public and active transport to improve connectivity.
Currently, the lack of a direct link between Ontario highways and interprovincial bridges forces heavy trucks to travel through downtown Ottawa, causing congestion, noise and safety risks. By providing a new freight lane, the Eastern Bridge could significantly reduce the 13,000 heavy trucks that pass through downtown Ottawa and Gatineau each week.
