Coalition calls on federal candidates to save aging Alexandra Bridge

The Alexandra Bridge in Ottawa one day after reopening to traffic. (Kimberley Fowler/CTV News Ottawa)

A coalition of groups wants the future of the Alexandra Bridge to be an election issue, calling on the next federal government to halt plans to replace the aging bridge with a new structure connecting Ottawa and Gatineau over the Ottawa River.

The National Capital Commission and Public Services and Procurement Canada are moving ahead with plans to demolish the 124-year-old bridge and build a new bridge. In March, officials unveiled the chosen design for the new interprovincial bridge, called Motion.

• This is the design for the new Alexandra Bridge connecting Ottawa and Gatineau

The Alexandra Bridge Coalition issued a statement on Wednesday, calling on federal candidates to commit to halting the demolition of the aging bridge.

“The Alexandra Bridge is more than a piece of infrastructure. It’s a symbol of Canadian ingenuity and of interprovincial collaboration,” the coalition said in a statement. “Built using the most advanced technologies of its time, it continues to serve thousands of pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters daily while anchoring the historic heart of the capital.”

The Alexandra Bridge Coalition is calling on the next government to “pause this rushed and questionable project.”

“No credible conservation engineering assessment has been made public. No transparent alternatives have been offered. Canada deserves better,” the coalition said.

• Alexandra Bridge reopens to vehicles for first time since October 2023

The Alexandra Bridge reopened to vehicles in February after being closed for 17 months for rehabilitation and repair work, which included work on the truss members and the boardwalk lane. Load restrictions remain in effect on the bridge, including a maximum 27 tonnes on the vehicle lanes.

Officials have said the ongoing repairs will allow the Alexandra Bridge to reopen open until the start of construction in 2028.

The Alexandra Bridge Coalition is calling on federal election candidates and party leaders to commit to a “full independent assessment of restoration options” before work proceeds to demolish the Alexandra Bridge and build the new bridge.

“This bridge is a living testament to what Canadians have built together,” the Alexandra Bridge coalition said in a statement. “At a time when our national identity is being tested and economic pressures are mounting, preserving the Alexandra Bridge sends a clear message: we protect what we have proudly built and allocate our resources wisely.”

The Alexandra Bridge Coalition includes Heritage Ottawa, Transport Action Canada, Ecology Ottawa, Bike Ottawa, Architects DCA, the Ontario National Trust for Canada, the Ontario Association of Architects, the Greenspace Alliance for Canada’s Capital, and several community associations.