Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) announced earlier this month that it has closed the Alexandra Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau until February 2025 due to safety concerns.

The federal agency reported that an inspection of the bridge’s structure recently found that the extent of the deterioration due to corrosion was greater than originally thought.

Therefore, it says the ongoing boardwalk and articulation repair project on the over 120-year-old Alexandra Bridge will require more work than originally expected before the bridge reopens to vehicular traffic.

The bride is now closed to vehicular traffic until the winter, although one land will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists.

In parallel to the boardwalk and articulation repair project, PSPC also continues to advance the Alexandra Bridge replacement project, which aims to replace the end-of-life structure with a new bridge that will provide long-lasting benefits to the communities on each side of the Ottawa River.

That project is planned to take place in three stages, with deconstruction work estimated to start in 2028, and the new bridge expected to open in 2032.