In-water work at Kingston’s Third Crossing bridge is cleared to begin.

The City of Kingston announced on Tuesday that it had received approval from Parks Canada on a Detailed Impact Assessment that considers the project’s environmental considerations, impacts and mitigation strategies. That document, along with the results of a 30-day public engagement exercise, will be posted to the city’s website tomorrow.

"Today's announcement is a major milestone for our community and puts us one step closer to a better-connected Kingston,” said Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson. “With investment secured from all levels of government, the provincial environmental assessment completed, and now the federal DIA in place, the significant preparation pieces are done. We're now ready to move forward with construction, full-steam ahead. I couldn't be happier with this news and the start of in-water work.”

The Third Crossing project aims to build Kingston’s third bridge across the Cataraqui River from Gore Road in the city's east-end to John Counter Boulevard in its north end. The 1.2 kilometre, two-lane bridge will improve emergency services, increase transportation through a multi-use pedestrian and bike pathway, create greater business connectivity and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.

The $180-million bridge is the largest infrastructure project the city has ever undertaken and is being funded equally by the municipal, provincial and federal governments. Designed and built by Peter Kiewit Sons ULC, Hatch Ltd. and SYSTRA International Bridge Technologies, the project will be delivered under an integrated project delivery model. It will be the first bridge project in Canada to use the methodology.

"We are on our way to building the Third Crossing," said Jim Keech, president and CEO of Utilities Kingston. "This project has been many years in the making and today we are excited to be announcing federal DIA approval for this big investment in connecting our city and improving and expanding on transit and active transportation in Kingston."

Shore work, in the form of fencing and the installation of a temporary pedestrian sidewalk north of John Counter Boulevard began last fall. With the DIA approval now obtained, in-water work can begin. That phase of the project will see teams adopt a hybrid construction approach called the Causeway-Trestle Solution (CTS).

The CTS involves a combination of temporary causeways and a temporary work bridge to access the piers and superstructure. A ferry barge or lifting span bridge will be used to transport equipment and material over the navigable channel. Based on the peat layer thickness of the river bed of a specific section of the causeway, the causeway area has been classed into three zones where three causeway designs are proposed to be utilized. The causeways would to be progressively placed until the end of 2019 and would be progressively removed between 2020 to 2021.

Construction is expected to last through 2022.