Opposition emerging over planned Kettle Island Suspension Bridge project
The long-standing proposal for a solution to ease traffic downtown and separate trucks from Lowertown's neighborhood is the Kettle Island Bridge. This controversial project, connecting Ottawa and Gatineau, has sparked pushback from some politicians.
The Kettle Island Bridge, undergoing a week of public consultations by the National Capital Commission (NCC), would span the Ottawa River, linking Ottawa and Gatineau via Kettle Island and the Aviation Parkway to Montée Paiement.
A daily commuter's perspective:Ottawa Liberal MP Robin Roberts, who regularly navigates the crowded stretch of King Edward Avenue for work, supports the bridge. traffic congestion along this route and the presence of heavy trucks, particularly pedestrian safety and the overall traffic flow in the downtown core, he believes a new interprovincial bridge would offer a viable solution.
An alternate perspective:On the other hand, Liberal MP Mona Fortier opposes the project. She asserts that the proposed bridge does not cater to Ottawa's needs, especially addressing the removal of heavy truck traffic from the King Edward Avenue corridor. Fortier suggests the project might worsen traffic issues rather than resolve them. In a letter to her constituents, she advocates for a connection between Highway 50 in Gatineau and Highway 417 in Ottawa, claiming it would better address the downtown traffic concerns regarding trucks.
Community concerns and the NCC's approach:The Lowertown neighborhood, which has dealt with truck traffic for six decades, seems to support the Kettle Island Bridge, despite the hefty price tag. Sylvie Bigras, president of the Lowertown Community Association, emphasizes the unacceptable situation where thousands of trucks circulate through their neighborhood, posing safety, air quality, and traffic flow concerns.
Councillor Tim Tierney, however, suggests a southern ring road, rather than another bridge, as the key to tackling Ottawa's traffic problems.
The proposed bridge could be completed between 2032 and 2034, and the NCC is inviting public input through an online survey on the early planning and design phase, open until July 10. The resilient debate among local politicians, residents, and MPs continues.
- The Kettle Island Bridge proposal, amidst the debate in politics, aims to ease traffic congestion in Ottawa's downtown core and separate heavy trucks from Lowertown's neighborhood.
- While Liberal MP Robin Roberts supports the bridge, citing its potential to alleviate traffic issues and improve pedestrian safety, Liberal MP Mona Fortier opposes it, asserting it fails to address Ottawa's needs and may worsen existing problems.
- As the NCC conducts public consultations for the bridge project, discussions revolve around alternative solutions like Ottawa's southern ring road and a connection between Highway 50 in Gatineau and Highway 417 in Ottawa, both proposed as potential resolutions for traffic concerns in the general-news and policy-and-legislation landscape.
