Public input yields 2 new Ottawa River crossing options

Two more options for a new interprovincial bridge or tunnel between Ottawa and Gatineau are being considered based on public comments at a round of public consultations, the National Capital Commission has announced.

The two new proposals, which bring the total number of Ottawa River crossing options to 10, were released as part of an update on the Interprovincial Crossings Environmental Assessment study issued by the commission Tuesday.

Theyinclude:

• An eastern crossing east of Lower Duck Island in Gloucester that connects to the Boulevard de l'Aeroport on the other side of Baie McLaurin Park.
• A different Quebec-sideextension of a crossing between Riddell Drive near Dunrobin and Highway 148 that includes a branch heading east toward Pink Road on the west side of Aylmer instead of only east toward Aylmer.

In addition, based on public input, the study will assess the possible use of the Prince of Wales Bridge for transit and freight. The abandoned railway bridge is located at Lemieux Island, just east of Parkdale Avenue in Ottawa.

The first phase of the two-phase study, being conducted by consultants Roche-NCE will continue with traffic modelling and economic assessments of the corridors before the next round of public consultations in 2008.

The study is funded by the National Capital Commission and the Ontario and Quebec ministries of transportation.