Construction on the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge this spring will likely frustrate commuters.
The bridge will undergo extensive reconstruction to replace worn out pieces and reinforce it against earthquakes.
“While complete bridge closures are not anticipated, lane reductions will be required,” says Sébastien Bois, media relations for the federal department of public works.
“To minimize the impact of the work on the local population, Public Works will issue notices to inform the public in advance when lane closures will be required.”
The department will communicate with drivers through electronic road signs, the project website and a phone line.
The construction contract is valued at $5 million. As the bridge is owned by the Canadian government and maintained by Public Works, federal taxpayer dollars will be used.
The bridge connects King Edward Avenue in downtown Ottawa to Highway 5 in Gatineau. It is used heavily by commuters travelling to work and is also a major avenue for interprovincial trucking.
It has a daily traffic average of 70,000 vehicles, with more than 2,000 trucks crossing. The construction is anticipated to cause major traffic headaches for commuters and truckers alike.
Drivers travelling between Ottawa and Gatineau will either have to add extra time to their journey or use an alternate route.
The official tender document posted by Public Works indicates the project will begin this spring and take two years to complete.
The work includes a “seismic retrofit of the bridge and the rehabilitation of deteriorating components, specifically the deck, sidewalks, lighting system, barriers, concrete surfaces of pillars and abutments,” says the tender.
Christine Leadman, executive director of the Bank Street BIA, says the main side-effect will be commuting complications.
Construction firms have until February to bid for the contract.