Railway turned pedestrian bridge over Ottawa River completing rehabilitation this year

A multi-use pathway (MUP) over the Ottawa River, connecting Gatineau and the nation’s capital, is set to complete rehabilitation work this year.

Construction on the Chief William Commanda Bridge multi-use trail and rehabilitation project began in the fall of 2021 and the City of Ottawa says the project is set to be complete in the next few months.

According to Ottawa, remaining work will focus on the piers and rehabilitation of the substructure of the bridge.

Since 2021, construction of bridge has taken place, as well as rehabilitation of the substructure. This includes pier work and stone masonry repairs/repointing on abutments, wrote the city in a press release.

The MUP was constructed in efforts to connect the City of Ottawa’s Trillium Pathway to the south and the National Capital Commission’s Voyageurs’ Pathway in Gatineau to the north, said the city.

The Chief William Commanda Bridge MUP opened to the public in August 2023, before completion of the full bridge structural rehabilitation.

Following its opening, the MUP has enhanced active transportation between Ottawa and Gatineau, also serving as an interprovincial link for cycling commuters, recreational users, and visitors. 

Based on the City of Ottawa website, the project timeline is as follows:

• Design and Environmental Assessment: winter 2020/2021
• Final Design: summer 2021
• Phase 1 – The multi-use pathway is now open
• Phase 2 – Substructure rehabilitation to be completed by fall 2024
• Completion: late 2024

North bridge pier concrete work 

The contractor is focusing remaining pier work on the north bridge structure, where they are currently preparing for the first two of six planned, single-day bridge closures, wrote the city.

Bridge closures will be needed to provide a safe access route for crew to transport concrete to the vertical chutes, they added.

According to the city, there will be two daytime closures of the north bridge, including Wednesday, September 4, and on Friday, September 6, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Residents should plan to take alternate routes during these closures.

The Chaudière Bridge to the east and the Champlain Bridge to the west are the closest alternate routes to cross the Ottawa River.

While the south bridge will remain open for use from the Trillium Pathway to Lemieux Island, users will be required to turn around since they will not be able to cross to Gatineau. 

According to the City of Ottawa website, the total estimated budget for the project — including the multi-use pathway and the substructure rehabilitation work — is an estimated $23.9 million.

The municipality invested approximately $15 million and another $8.6 million was funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Public Transit Infrastructure Stream.

An additional $270,000 was invested through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

“As we progress with the complete rehabilitation project, we anticipate some temporary disruptions to bridge access over the next year. The City of Ottawa will communicate these disruptions in advance to ensure the impact to users is known ahead of time,” wrote the city on their website.

It is suggesting residents consult the interactive traffic map prior to their commute, to confirm the pathway is open to the public.