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Eastern Bridge in the National Capital Region

We’re taking steps to plan the new Eastern Bridge connecting Gatineau and Ottawa. This project will improve transportation, support economic growth and prepare for future needs in the National Capital Region (NCR).

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Project overview

Location
From Montée Paiement in Gatineau, Quebec to the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa, Ontario
Type of project
New construction
Lead department
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Project status
Pre-planning phase
Next steps
Planning and design phase

Project description

The population in the NCR has doubled since the last crossing (the Portage Bridge) was built in 1973. With more people commuting between Ottawa and Gatineau, there’s a clear need for better transportation options.

To support this growth, we're using the Long-Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan to shape a transportation system in the NCR that’s more sustainable and connected. This plan looks at the current and future transportation challenges and uncertainties in the region. It also shows why a new bridge is important to improve travel and meet future needs.

We’re working with partners to advance the planning and design of the Eastern Bridge. PSPC is collaborating with the National Capital Commission (NCC) and a technical advisor as 1 team.

PSPC leads the overall project planning and delivery, which includes the design, procurement and construction of the bridge. As a member of the integrated project team, the NCC provides support to this project, namely in areas of transportation planning, impact assessment and engagement activities.

Location

Evaluations conducted over the last 15 years have consistently recommended the Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor for the new bridge.

In 2024, we identified the Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor as the preferred location. This location was selected because it offers strong benefits and is expected to have fewer impacts during construction and operation.

The new corridor will extend from Autoroute 50 at Montée Paiement in Gatineau to Highway 417 at the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa.

As the project will use existing roadways, the benefits of this corridor include:

Map showing the corridor connecting Montée Paiement in Gatineau, to the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa. It shows the approximate location of the new Eastern Bridge.

Advantages of the new bridge

There have been many studies looking at building a new bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau. Past studies concluded that we need a new bridge to improve interprovincial transportation and mobility.

Improved mobility for a growing population

The Eastern Bridge will provide more direct travel, offer more options, and provide new connections of the public transit networks.

  • The NCR’s population is expected to reach nearly 2 million by 2050
  • Existing bridges are at or near full capacity, especially the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, used by an average of 75,000 vehicles daily (2025)
  • Morning rush-hour congestion is expected to increase by 53% from 2011 to 2050
Improved freight transport

The bridge will:

  • offer a new route for heavy trucks
  • reduce traffic in central areas
  • support smoother freight movement

According to the Interprovincial Truck Mobility Data Collection in the National Capital Region - National Capital Commission (PDF):

  • 3,500 trucks cross the Ottawa River every day, and 72% of them use the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge
  • 67% of heavy trucks travelling on the current King-Edward corridor have an origin or destination outside the immediate area
  • more than 75% of trucks use a route that either starts or ends east of the Gatineau or Rideau rivers
Boosting economic development

By offering easier travel between provinces, the bridge will support local economies on both sides of the river. It will:

  • ease travel between provinces
  • encourage urban growth along major transportation routes
Improved resiliency

Past flooding events in 2017 and 2019 highlighted the vulnerability of existing infrastructure. The new bridge will:

  • facilitate emergency response
  • help the region adapt to climate change and natural disasters

Design highlights

The Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor is expected to be about 12 kilometres long and would include the new bridge.

The new bridge is expected to feature:

Project timeline

The project will take place in 4 stages with the bridge expected to be operational in 2034. The impact assessment process and the approach to the construction program could influence the implementation timeline. We’re currently in the pre-planning phase of the project.

The project will respect the region’s natural environment and cultural heritage. The scope of the project will be refined following the results of the technical studies, assessments and engagement activities.

Phase 1: Pre-planning (2019 to 2026)
  • selected the corridor
  • conducted geotechnical investigations
  • retained a technical advisor
  • engaged with the public, partners and stakeholders, including municipal and provincial partners and Indigenous communities (Report: Public participation round 1)
  • continuing ecological studies
    • initial ecological studies began in spring 2025 within the river area to avoid sensitive features through bridge design
    • additional studies will be undertaken in 2026 for the rest of the corridor
  • develop the initial project description to initiate the impact assessment process
  • finalize the:
    • performance criteria and the functional requirements
    • planning and design principles, which will:
    • design selection framework which includes the multicriteria assessment tool
  • develop the procurement strategy
  • develop concept design options
Phase 2: Planning and design (2026 to 2028)
  • finalize the impact assessment process and technical studies
  • obtain Impact Assessment Act approval
  • evaluate options using the design selection framework and multicriteria assessment tool
  • identify and advance a preferred concept design
  • seek feedback from Indigenous communities, the public and stakeholders
  • seek approval of the design concept from the NCC Board of Directors, in accordance with the National Capital Act, as part of its regulatory federal approval authority
Phase 3: Procurement (2027 to 2028)
  • procure the services for the owner’s engineer to support the project team during the construction stage
  • advance the procurement process and award contracts for the final designer and builder via competitive requests for qualifications and proposals
Phase 4: Final design and construction (2029 to 2034)
  • finalize the design
  • seek feedback from Indigenous communities, the public and stakeholders
  • seek approval of the final design from the NCC’s Board of Directors
  • build the new bridge

Project background: Studies and research

Past research shows that the need for an interprovincial link east of the NCR has been recognized since 1915 to:

The integrated project office has also commissioned many studies in recent years.

In 2024, the government:

Related links

Design selection framework

The design selection framework is an overall structure and process for decision-making. It is a structured approach used to evaluate and choose among different design options. It provides a systematic way to compare alternatives based on predefined criteria, ensuring decisions are consistent, transparent, and aligned with project goals.

Multicriteria assessment tool

A multicriteria assessment tool is the practical instrument that applies the framework to real options. It evaluates alternatives against multiple criteria simultaneously. It assigns importance to each criterion, quantifies how well each option meets each criterion and combines scores to help select the best option.

From:

Page details

2025-12-30