Officials from the local, provincial and federal governments were on hand to break ground on in-water construction work at Kingston’s Third Crossing bridge on December 16.

The project involves building a new, two-lane bridge over the Great Cataraqui River, connecting the east and west sides of Kingston, almost halfway between Highway 401 and the LaSalle Causeway. The bridge will include options for shared and active transportation, including a multi-use pedestrian and bike pathway, sidewalks and cycle lanes on the road approaches, as well as connections to future waterfront trails. It will also help alleviate congestion and improve emergency response.

“Today we’re truly making history; we’re embarking on a project that will connect our city in ways we can’t fully realize,” said Bryan Paterson, Mayor of Kingston. “After 50 years of community conversation, I am so extremely proud to be here breaking ground. This is a moment our community will remember for years to come. Thank you to our federal and provincial partners, this would not be possible without your support.”

The project is being jointly funded by the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Each has contributed $60 million. In August 2018, the city selected the team of Peter Kiewit and Sons, HATCH Ltd and SYSTRA IBT to build the bridge.

The construction teams are using an integrated project delivery model with a view to delivering the project more efficiently and with fewer disruptions. The Third Crossing project represents the first time in Canada in which the IPD model gas been used to build a bridge.

With in-water work now officially underway, the team is poised to meet its completion deadline of 2023.