About the Alexandra Bridge
Learn more about this bridge that connects Ontario and Quebec, and how we’re maintaining it until it’s replaced.
On this page
About the bridge
The Alexandra Bridge is owned by the Government of Canada and maintained by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). It’s recognized as a bridge of national historic importance. Also known as the Interprovincial Bridge, it connects Sussex Drive in Ottawa and Des Allumettières Boulevard in Gatineau. It provides a link between the tourist attractions of the Byward Market and the Canadian Museum of History. It’s an example of significant engineering achievement and was designed and built by Canadians.
Operations of the bridge
Normally, about 18,000 vehicles cross the Alexandra Bridge every day. About 40% of all pedestrians and cyclists crossing the river use this bridge. This means more people walk and cycle over this bridge than any of the other bridges that go between Ottawa and Gatineau.
State of the bridge
Bridge design and heritage
The Alexandra Bridge is the only true-pin cantilevered truss bridge in the region. This type of design is rare today due to:
- high construction costs
- large areas of exposed steel that corrode easily
- difficult-to-access connection points that are costly to maintain
The bridge has historical and cultural value. It’s been recognized as:
- a site of National Historic Importance (Level II heritage rating)
- a National Historic Civil Engineering Site
However, it’s not officially designated as a National Historic Site in the Directory of Federal Heritage Designations. Therefore, it’s not subject to mandatory protection and conservation.
Images gallery
The following images show the condition of the bridge before its replacement, including corrosion, buckling and structural damage.
Video: Alexandra Bridge replacement project
Watch a 2022 video that shows the condition of the bridge and provides an update on the replacement project.
Alexandra Bridge replacement project—Transcript
Start of video
[Music plays]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Drone shot of Alexandra Bridge with Ottawa and Gatineau in view]
In the National Capital Region, Public Services and Procurement Canada is responsible for three interprovincial bridges:
[Map of Ottawa, Gatineau and the Ottawa River]
(Text on screen: Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, Alexandra Bridge, Chaudière Crossing)
The Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, the Alexandra Bridge, and the Chaudière Crossing.
[Shot of a bearded man in a blue shirt on a grey background]
(Text on screen: Paul Lebrun, Chief Engineer, National Capital Region Bridges, Public Services and Procurement Canada)
My role, first and foremost, is to ensure that our bridges are safe for users. This is done through regular inspections and maintenance.
[Shot of the underside of the Alexandra Bridge]
[Photo of a construction worker on top of the bridge]
[Drone shot of cars driving across the Alexandra Bridge]
[Worker welding steel grating]
[Worker welding and several trucks on the Alexandra Bridge]
[Worker using a grinder on the steel grating of the bridge]
We have a team of 10 professionals who manage the day to day operations of the three bridges. We conduct regular inspections, and plan the maintenance and repair projects needed to keep these bridges safe.
[Timelapse of the Alexandra Bridge with traffic driving across]
(Text on screen: State of the Alexandra Bridge)
[Cyclist bikes past a sign that says “1900 Interprovincial Bridge”]
[Shot of the Alexandra Bridge with a boat next to it]
[Drone shot of the Alexandra Bridge with traffic driving across and green trees on the shore]
[Photo of the underside of the Alexandra Bridge with scaffolding at workers examining the bridge]
[Photo of the underside of the Alexandra Bridge and rusty metal beams]
[Photo of extremely rusted metal]
At more than 120 years old, the Alexandra Bridge is the oldest of the three interprovincial bridges that PSPC manages. In spite of regular maintenance it is nearing the end of its lifecycle and needs to be replaced.
[Animated blueprint of the Alexandra Bridge]
[Shot of a worker with a wielding mask working on steel grating]
To ensure the bridge remains safe, a monitoring system was recently installed that provides real-time data on the state of the bridge, allowing any issues to quickly be identified and addressed.
[Shot of a bearded man in a blue shirt on a grey background]
[Photo of the Alexandra Bridge and the Canadian Museum of History]
(Text on screen: 2009-2010, Replaced center deck, Steel repairs, Seismic retrofit; 2013-2014, Structural steel repairs, Coating of the Hull Trestle; 2016-2017, Structural steel replacement; 2019-2021, Structural steel replacement)
We have completed several rehabilitation projects to make sure that the bridge remains safe for users until it can be replaced.
Despite all of this work, detailed inspections tell us that the bridge continues to deteriorate, mainly due to corrosion.
[Signs indicating the Alexandra Bridge is closed with the bridge in the background]
(Text on screen: Alexandra Bridge Closed)
[Worker using a grinder on steel grating]
[Panning shot of the Alexandra Bridge with a worker welding]
PSPC will continue to conduct regular inspections, perform repairs and monitor critical components of the bridge, until it can be replaced.
[Drone shot of the Alexandra Bridge]
(Text on screen: The Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project)
[Shot of a woman dressed in black in front of a black background]
(Text on screen: Keri-Lee Doré, Senior Project Director, Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project, Public Services and Procurement Canada)
The Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project will provide long-lasting benefits to the communities on both sides of the Ottawa River and to the National Capital Region as a whole.
[Drone shot of the Alexandra Bridge with a boat next to it]
[Aerial photo of the Alexandra Bridge with the Ottawa and Gatineau sides]
[Shot of the pedestrian side of the Alexandra Bridge with people jogging]
It will create a sustainable and dependable interprovincial transportation connection that will improve vehicle traffic and encourage use by pedestrians and cyclists.
[Shot of a woman dressed in black in front of a black background]
The new bridge design will pay careful attention to the history and unique setting of the existing Alexandra Bridge.
[Shot of the Alexandra Bridge taken from the shore]
[Drone shot of the Alexandra Bridge with Ottawa in the background]
For more information regarding the Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project and its consultations activities, visit our website.
(Text on screen: Canada.ca/alexandra-bridge)
(Text on screen: Check us out: facebook.com/PSPC.SPAC, instagram.com/pspc_spac, twitter.com/pspc_spac, youtube.com/PWGSCanada)
[Music stops]
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Current Alexandra Bridge projects
The Alexandra Bridge is more than 120 years old and has reached the end of its life cycle. Over the last few years, the state of the bridge has continued to deteriorate. This will continue to result in more frequent closures to perform the necessary repair work to keep serving users.
Although the bridge is due to be replaced in the near future, we will continue carrying out repair work to keep the bridge in service as long as possible. We also inspect the bridge regularly, and we installed a monitoring system that provides us with real-time data on the state of the bridge.
Boardwalk and articulation repair project
In fall 2023, work started to repair the boardwalk and the articulation joints of the Alexandra Bridge. This project is in the construction phase.
Alexandra Bridge: Boardwalk and articulation repair project
Alexandra Bridge Replacement project
Corrosion is the main reason the bridge needs to be replaced. Time, weather, salt and heavy use have caused significant wear. Despite ongoing maintenance, the bridge continues to deteriorate, leading to more frequent closures for repairs.
Key areas of concern include:
- structural articulation
- buckling
- eye bars
- pins of the truss members
We continue to monitor using a real-time system, and to inspect and repair the bridge regularly to ensure it remains safe until it’s replaced.