LaSalle Causeway
Learn about the LaSalle Causeway, which links downtown Kingston to Pittsburgh district at the mouth of the Cataraqui River.
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About the causeway
The LaSalle Causeway is considered part of Highway 2, connecting the city of Kingston to its eastern suburbs.
The causeway consists of 5 interconnecting engineered structures:
- 3 bridges:
- West Bridge
- East Bridge
- modular bridge (replaced the Bascule Bridge, which was removed in 2024)
- 2 wharfs:
- West Wharf
- East Wharf
The West Bridge and the East Bridge are 2 fixed bridges located at each end of the causeway. The central channel has a modular bridge structure in place.
The West Wharf features the site office and workshop for the bridge and the operator control station. The operator control station, used for the operation of the demolished Bascule Bridge, is not currently in use.
The LaSalle Causeway links downtown Kingston to Pittsburgh district at the mouth of the Cataraqui River.
The Cataraqui River is the southern entrance to the Rideau Canal, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The LaSalle Causeway provides marine access to the canal and the inner harbour of Kingston. The main navigation channel under the modular bridge, which opens on a fixed schedule, is for larger and taller vessels. A secondary channel under the East Bridge is available at all times for smaller and shallower vessels.
Bascule Bridge
The central channel was previously occupied by the Bascule Bridge, which lifted during the annual navigation season.
On March 30, 2024, part of the Bascule Bridge was damaged during construction. A diagonal steel truss element that supports the counterweight was compromised. We conducted an analysis of the damage. The analysis showed that key elements of the bridge structure were considerably displaced and misaligned. This would significantly reduce the life of the bridge. Following discussions with the City of Kingston, we decided to demolish and remove the entire structure of the bridge.
On June 20, the Bascule Bridge was demolished and removed, leaving the LaSalle Causeway fully open for marine navigation.
Modular bridge
On October 3, we installed a modular bridge where the previous Bascule Bridge used to be, to allow vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists to cross the causeway.
The modular bridge is a 2-lane pre-fabricated truss bridge. It accommodates legal vehicle traffic and includes a separate sidewalk. The bridge sits on the existing abutments of the previous Bascule Bridge.
The design of the modular bridge allows us to remove and reinstall it periodically to allow marine traffic to travel through the main navigation channel.
Photo gallery
Video: Moving the modular bridge for marine access through the LaSalle Causeway
Watch this video to see how the design of the modular bridge on the LaSalle Causeway allows us to remove and reinstall it.
Transcript: LaSalle Causeway - Moving the modular bridge for marine access through the LaSalle Causeway
Start of video
[Music plays.]
(Text on screen: Public Services and Procurement Canada)
[Shot of the sign for La Salle Causeway is shown with cars and pedestrians moving by.]
[Drone shot from above showing the temporary bridge on the barge being prepared to move.]
[Shot moves across the site showing the work being done and a better look at the boat moving the barge.]
[Shot of a top-down drone timelapse showing the bridge on the barge moving out of the roadway, and pulling out so boats can pass by.]
[Drone shot shows barge and boat in the open water safely out of the waterway passage.]
[Wide shot shows the boat, barge and bridge off to the side as the waterway passage is now fully open.]
[Wide shot shows the waterway in use as a sailboat passes through the opening before fading to white.]
(Text on screen: Check us out, Facebook: /PSPC.SPAC, Instagram: @pspc_spac, X: @pspc_spac, YouTube: PSPC_SPAC.)
(Text on screen: ISBN: 978-0-660-74162-8, Catalogue: P4-158/2024E-MP4)
[Music stops]
(Public Services and Procurement Canada signature)
(Canada Wordmark)
End of video
Key milestones
The causeway has undergone various structural changes over the years:
- 1917:
- the causeway was opened
- the 1829 “Penny Bridge,” a wooden toll bridge with a swing section to allow passage of marine vessels, was replaced by the Bascule Bridge, a single-leaf Strauss heel trunnion bascule bridge designed by the Strauss Bascule Bridge Co. of Chicago
- the original East Bridge and West Bridge were single-span through truss structures
- 1969: the East Bridge was replaced with a 2-span prestressed concrete voided slab beam bridge that was designed by C.C. Parker & Associates Ltd.
- 1994: the West Bridge was replaced with a 2-span prestressed concrete box beam girder bridge
- 2010: the steel structure and coating of the Bascule Bridge underwent extensive rehabilitation
- 2020: mechanical systems were repaired to address the systems’ deficiencies that impacted operations
- 2021: the structural steel was repaired to address fatigue issues in the structural truss
- 2022: concrete repairs were completed to address deficiencies on the road and critical structural items for the health and safety of the public
- 2023: construction work began on the Bascule Bridge rehabilitation
- June 2024: the Bascule Bridge was demolished and removed due to damage incurred during construction
- October 2024: a modular bridge was installed to reinstate road access for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
Information for motorists and other traffic
Modular bridge access for land traffic
The modular bridge is currently open to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge will close on scheduled dates to open the main navigation channel to marine traffic.
Main navigation channel access for marine traffic
The main navigation channel is closed for marine navigation as of November 16. It will reopen to marine traffic on scheduled dates starting in April 2025.
Public notices
Read our public notices and follow us on social media to keep up to date on bridge closures and channel openings.
Related links
LaSalle Causeway: Removing the Bascule Bridge and installing a modular bridge
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