PSPC awards two contracts for Alexandra Bridge work
The federal government has awarded contracts worth just shy of $47 million in support of efforts to replace the Alexandra Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau.
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) awarded the first contract, worth $14.95 million, to Arup Canada Inc. to act as technical advisor for the bridge replacement project.
Arup will help to coordinate and complete a number of economic, heritage and environmental studies, as well as developing the conceptual designs of the new bridge.
While the bridge replacement is ongoing, PSPC is also carrying out repair work to keep the Alexandra Bridge in service and safe for commuters.
To that end, it announced it had awarded a contract worth just under $32 million to Pomerleau Inc. for construction management services to perform essential maintenance to keep the bridge safe and in service until deconstruction. The initial value of the contract covers the projected cost of structural repair work on the boardwalk and the articulation joints, as well as the construction manager's fees.
PSPC says that value may vary as Pomerleau assesses the project and awards subcontracts for the repair work. Construction work is scheduled to begin this summer and carry through to the summer of 2025.
"The Alexandra Bridge is a national historic site in the National Capital Region, connecting communities on both sides of the Ottawa River,” said Our government remains committed to designing a new bridge that considers the history and unique setting of the existing bridge, respects the integrity of the national capital's cultural landscapes, and reflects Canadian values and identity."
PSPC has started planning and implementing impact assessment activities, and will continue to advance design, procurement and construction of a new crossing to replace the Alexandra Bridge. The process is expected to take as many as 10 years to complete.
The National Capital Commission, meanwhile, will evaluate the bridge design against established criteria. These performance criteria are based on the planning and design principles, which were the subject of a public consultation in fall 2020.
The planning and design principles provided additional direction on the design of the new bridge in the areas of planning, heritage protection, urban design and sustainability.
In addition to using the performance criteria to develop bridge designs, the design process will ensure that designs are informed by the input from the public, Indigenous communities, partners, stakeholders and independent advisors. An independent panel will review and recommend a preferred concept design.
The technical advisor may also provide subject matter expertise and technical advisory services throughout the detailed design and construction of the new bridge.
The Alexandra Bridge connects Sussex Drive in Ottawa with Des Allumettières Boulevard in Gatineau. It is the closest link between two major tourist attractions in the National Capital Region: Ottawa’s Byward Market and the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.
Normally, about 18,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day. This amounts to 9% of the vehicle traffic on the interprovincial bridges in the National Capital Region. About 37% of all pedestrians and cyclists crossing the river use this bridge. This means more people walk and cycle over this bridge than any of the other bridges that go between Ottawa and Gatineau.
Now more than 120 years old, the bridge is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Over the last few years, the state of the bridge has continued to deteriorate. This has resulted in frequent closures to perform essential repair work.
The federal government mandated the replacement of the Alexandra Bridge in its 2019 budget.