Eastern Bridge in the National Capital Region

We’re planning a new Eastern Bridge to better connect Gatineau and Ottawa. This project will improve transportation, support economic growth and prepare for future needs in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Public comment period now open

The Initial Project Description for the Eastern Bridge project is now available for public comment. Consult the document and share your comments on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry website by October 9, 2026.

Project overview

Location: From Montée Paiement in Gatineau, Quebec to the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa, Ontario
Type of project: New construction
Lead department: Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)
Project status: Planning and design phase
Next steps: Procurement

Project description

The population in the NCR has doubled since the last crossing (the Portage Bridge) was built in 1973. With more people commuting between Ottawa and Gatineau, there’s a clear need for better transportation options.

To support this growth, we're using the Long-Term Integrated Interprovincial Crossings Plan to shape a transportation system in the NCR that’s more sustainable and connected. This plan looks at the current and future transportation challenges and uncertainties in the region. It also shows why a new bridge is important to improve travel and meet future needs.

We’re working with partners to advance the planning and design of the Eastern Bridge. PSPC is collaborating with the National Capital Commission (NCC) and a technical advisor as 1 team.

PSPC leads the overall project planning and delivery, which includes the design, procurement and construction of the bridge. As a member of the integrated project team, the NCC provides support to this project, namely in areas of transportation planning, impact assessment and engagement activities.

Project update

In June 2026, the NCC board of directors approved the planning and design principles for the Eastern Bridge. This approval marks a key milestone for the project and provides the framework that will guide how design options are developed and assessed in the next phases.

As the project lead, PSPC will identify and advance a preferred crossing concept for the new bridge as planning and design work progresses.

Location

Evaluations conducted over the last 15 years have consistently recommended the Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor for the new bridge.

In 2024, we identified the Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor as the preferred location. This location was selected because it offers strong benefits and is expected to have fewer impacts during construction and operation.

The new corridor will extend from Autoroute 50 at Montée Paiement in Gatineau to Highway 417 at the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa.

As the project will use existing roadways, the benefits of this corridor include:

the lowest impacts to air quality and previously undisturbed natural environments, including a less mature tree canopy
improved proximity to existing commercial properties in both municipalities, which stand to benefit from enhanced access via a new bridge
a faster construction timeline

Map showing the corridor connecting Montée Paiement in Gatineau, to the Aviation Parkway in Ottawa. It shows the approximate location of the new Eastern Bridge.

Impact assessment

On August 7, 2026, we submitted the Initial Project Description (IPD) for the Eastern Bridge project to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC).

This submission started a transparent and thorough review process by federal regulators under the Impact Assessment Act. This is an important milestone in advancing the project.

Initial Project Description available for review

The IPD is now available on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.

Its publication starts a comment period. During this time, government organizations, Indigenous communities and organizations, and members of the public can review the document and submit feedback online. The comment period closes on October 9, 2026.

The IPD:

describes the project and planned activities
identifies potential environmental, health, social and economic effects
outlines bridge alignment options being considered

Next steps in the impact assessment process

Studies carried out throughout 2026 will help prepare the project’s impact statement and support IAAC’s impact assessment of the project.

The IAAC will also conduct its own engagement process. There will be more opportunities to learn about the project and provide feedback as planning continues.

Advantages of the new bridge

There have been many studies looking at building a new bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau. Past studies concluded that we need a new bridge to improve interprovincial transportation and mobility.

Improved mobility for a growing population

The Eastern Bridge will provide more direct travel, offer more options, and provide new connections of the public transit networks.

The NCR’s population is expected to reach nearly 2 million by 2050
Existing bridges are at or near full capacity, especially the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, used by an average of 75,000 vehicles daily (2025)
Morning rush-hour congestion is expected to increase by 53% from 2011 to 2050

Improved freight transport

The bridge will:

offer a new route for heavy trucks
reduce traffic in central areas
support smoother freight movement

According to the Interprovincial Truck Mobility Data Collection in the National Capital Region - National Capital Commission (PDF):

3,500 trucks cross the Ottawa River every day, and 72% of them use the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge
67% of heavy trucks travelling on the current King-Edward corridor have an origin or destination outside the immediate area
more than 75% of trucks use a route that either starts or ends east of the Gatineau or Rideau rivers

Boosting economic development

By offering easier travel between provinces, the bridge will support local economies on both sides of the river. It will:

ease travel between provinces
encourage urban growth along major transportation routes

Improved resiliency

Past flooding events in 2017 and 2019 highlighted the vulnerability of existing infrastructure. The new bridge will:

facilitate emergency response
help the region adapt to climate change and natural disasters

Design highlights

The Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor is expected to be about 12 kilometres long and would include the new bridge.

The new bridge is expected to feature:

pedestrians and cyclist lane(s) separated from vehicular traffic
personal and commercial vehicles lanes
sustainable travel by investing in infrastructure for public transit
improvements that make transportation more efficient and help reduce environmental impact

Project timeline

The project will take place in 4 stages with the bridge expected to be operational in 2034. The impact assessment process and the approach to the construction program could influence the implementation timeline. We’re currently in the planning and design phase of the project.

The project will respect the region’s natural environment and cultural heritage. The scope of the project will be refined following the results of the technical studies, assessments and engagement activities.

Phase 1: Pre-planning (2019 to 2026)

selected the corridor
conducted geotechnical investigations
retained a technical advisor
engaged with the public, partners and stakeholders, including municipal and provincial partners and Indigenous communities (Report: Public participation round 1)
continuing ecological studies
- initial ecological studies began in spring 2025 within the river area to avoid sensitive features through bridge design
- additional studies will be undertaken in 2026 for the rest of the corridor
received approval of the planning and design principles from the NCC board of directors in June 2026
developed the IPD and submitted it to the IAAC on August 7, 2026, initiating the impact assessment process
finalize the:
- performance criteria and the functional requirements
- design selection framework which includes the multicriteria assessment tool
develop the procurement strategy
develop concept design options

Phase 2: Planning and design (2026 to 2028)

finalize the impact assessment process and technical studies
review and respond to comments received during the public comment period on the IPD
evaluate options using the design selection framework and multicriteria assessment tool
identify and advance a preferred concept design
seek feedback from Indigenous communities, the public, and stakeholders
obtain Impact Assessment decision
seek approval of the design concept from the NCC Board of Directors, in accordance with the National Capital Act, as part of its regulatory federal approval authority

Phase 3: Procurement (2027 to 2028)

procure the services for the owner’s engineer to support the project team during the construction stage
advance the procurement process and award contracts for the final designer and builder via competitive requests for qualifications and proposals

Phase 4: Final design and construction (2029 to 2034)

finalize the design
seek feedback from Indigenous communities, the public and stakeholders
seek approval of the final design from the NCC’s board of directors
build the new bridge

Project background: Studies and research

Past research shows that the need for an interprovincial link east of the NCR has been recognized since 1915 to:

unify the shores of Gatineau and Ottawa
integrate transportation and mobility

The integrated project office has also commissioned many studies in recent years.

In 2024, the government:

authorized further studies on the Montée Paiement–Aviation Parkway Corridor
announced its commitment to a new multimodal bridge over the Ottawa River in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement

From:

Public Services and Procurement Canada

Page details

2026-09-01

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