FAQ

The bridge is going to run diagonally across the river, not straight across, and this will impact a significantly greater length of the riverfront than simply the bridge’s own width, not only visually, but with noise and pollution.  Then the highway from the bridge will go through the farm land in the Greenbelt between the Jeanne d'Arc and Montreal Road interchanges. 

Actually, the McLaurin Bay option will cross the river opposite the northwest corner of Orleans. Both it and the Lower Duck Island option will carve up the eastern Greenbelt on the way to delivering extra traffic to Highway 174 between the Jeanne d’Arc and Montreal Rd. interchanges. The Kettle Island option would go through Manor Park, near Rockcliffe Park. 

Historically that has been the case, but this time things are different.  Firstly, this time there is pre-construction work that has been going on since early October 2022, right here in the river in Orléans.  That has never happened before.  Secondly, the government has created an office in the PSPC that will oversee the construction contract; this, too, has never happened before. Thirdly, in the Refresh Study, the Lower Duck Island and McLaurin Bay options were deemed least favourable BECAUSE THEY CUT ACROSS THE EASTERN GREENBELT – (Refresh Study, Section 7.1.3) 

No. In fact, both have come out strongly against it in 2022 (as well as in 2013, the second most recent time this issue arose) saying that it was not a priority at all, not necessary, and that the substantial funds the bridge will require would be better spent on just about anything else.  With that said, as of October 2022 we have a new mayor and city council, so it remains to be seen what the city's current position is. 

The bridge will have an important impact on commute times for all property owners east of the bridge as more traffic will be diverted from the 50 which is often backed up (a major reason why Gatineau is pushing for the construction of this bridge). This will lead to large swaths of Orléans, Cumberland, and Rockland where commute times will increase beyond what is considered reasonable. This increase will make it difficult to attract buyers for properties since those commute times will no longer be acceptable. This is especially true in areas without easy access to the LRT assuming that the Stage 2 extension is capable of handling the increased volume.

Orléans is a great place to raise a family which is the main reason a lot of us have moved to the area. We are a quiet neighbourhood where the city and nature are both easily accessible. The jewels of the neighbourhood are the Ottawa River Pathway and the Greenbelt. This bridge threatens to sever the access to the pathway and the Greenbelt in the short term through construction disruption and in the long term with noise and pollution which will impact property values. Protecting the Greenbelt is important for the livability of Orléans.

Don't be misled by recent memories of pandemic life and empty highways, and recall how horrific "the split" (where the 174 meets the 417) was every single morning as you drove to your job downtown...it was maddening!  Now, ever since the federal government's “return to office” policy started in September 2022, the traffic has been getting bad again.  Now, imagine all of the federal government fully in hybrid mode, along with thousands of heavy diesel trucks from Quebec making their way to the 417....first, they will slowly merge onto the 174 before the Montreal Road interchange, causing a large slowdown...then the sheer volume of traffic from Quebec, added to what is already on the 174, will all converge on "the split" and come to a complete standstill for half an hour or more.  

While it is true that the federal government has been primarily WFH during the pandemic, starting in September 2022 there has been a significant shift in many if not most departments and agencies to move to a hybrid model with 2-3 days a week in the office in downtown Ottawa.  Perhaps your department or agency is still WFH, but that cannot last; you will eventually be downtown again for 2-3 days a week. The political pressure to "get the government back to work" is too strong to ignore.  

All of the warehouses that Amazon uses to service Ottawa and Orléans are actually already on this side of the river. One is on Boundary Road at the 417.   Very little of the truck traffic from Quebec would be destined for Ottawa; it's going on to Toronto and elsewhere. The existing traffic studies, although outdated and pre-pandemic (which is a huge problem!), showed that very little of the traffic from Gatineau is actually coming to or going from the east end of the city (Orléans).  There is no benefit. 

The traffic volume all around the split will increase significantly, so yes, you will still be impacted assuming you are eventually using the 417 to get downtown. As well, some of the traffic that used to use the highway will move over to Innes.  

This was one of the initially stated purposes of the bridge project, but the focus has now moved to improved connectivity. But, in any event, such a bridge won't be the solution; even the government's own studies say it!