CTV NEWS | by Josh Pringle

The design for the new Alexandra Bridge is called Motion, a concept inspired by nature and the eel that is one of the native species of the Ottawa River.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada unveiled the chosen design for the interprovincial bridge during the NCC’s Board of Directors meeting Thursday morning. The current Alexandra Bridge is at the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced.

Motion has been identified as the preferred concept for the new bridge.

“The concept will be further refined, potentially integrating elements of the other concepts and incorporating additional improvements,” said a report for the NCC’s Board of Directors.

In October, the NCC unveiled three design concepts to replace the aging Alexandra Bridge that connects Ottawa and Gatineau over the Ottawa River, called Motion, Rendez vous and Echo.

The Motion concept is inspired by the American eel, and features three arches - one primary arch and two secondary arches. The bridge design is a “tribute to the dynamic, ever-changing movement” of the Ottawa River, according to the NCC.

“Three arches rise and fall, flowing over the river offering interest both above and below,” the NCC website says.

“Gathering points are marked by the sections of the bridge where the structure curves below the deck. These are supported below by a structural form that reaches out in a sculpted support.”

The Motion design concept includes separated bike lanes and vehicle lanes and a pedestrian lane on the outer side.

According to the presentation, feedback on Motion during the public consultations included “the unobstructed views were praised” and “the fluid and dynamic concept with proportions that integrate well in the landscape.” Other feedback included improving the separation of cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles.

The NCC Board of Directors granted an initial Federal Land Use and Design Approval for the preferred concept.

NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum told the board that the NCC received 5,000 responses to the designs online and received almost 2,000 comments.

“The wealth of feedback was compiled and shared with the technical teams in the fall of 2024, playing a role in informing the design selection and refining the approved concept,” Nussbaum said.

“(The team) did a very rigorous multi-criteria analysis of a whole series of different criteria and recommended to the board for federal design approval ‘The Motion’ option.”

The Alexandra Bridge, which was built in 1901, is one of five interprovincial bridges connecting Ottawa and Gatineau. It’s currently closed to vehicles for rehabilitation work.

The NCC’s Board of Directors is scheduled to approve the final design concept this spring, with a recommendation of the 100 per cent developed design set for 2028. The deconstruction of the existing Alexandra Bridge and the construction of the new bridge is scheduled for between 2028 and 2032.

“Many of the consultations asked both the public and the stakeholders ‘what do you like and not like about each of these options?’ so now the team has an opportunity to integrate some of that advice and feedback to improve the initial concepts,” Nussbaum said.

Community groups hoping for change

Some community groups said they wanted to see something different from the NCC when it comes to the new bridge.

“I think we were really kind of hoping to see something more innovative where we’re getting rid of the cars. We’re talking about pedestrianizing the ByWard market more and more. So, having all these major throughways through our neighborhood and through these pedestrian areas just doesn’t make any sense anymore,” said Josiah Frith with the Lowertown Community Association.

“It’s unfortunate. I’m hopeful that with something new, we can get tram and more public transportation, but yeah, it’s kind of a bit of a ‘ho hum’ day for us.”

Proponents of keeping the original bridge were also disappointed.

“None of the materials will be preserved or reused in any way. The first proposed design sort of commemorated the shape and appearance and even the technology of the current bridge, but that design has been rejected. So really there will be very little left to remind us of the Alexandra Bridge and we’re disappointed about that,” said David Jeanes with Transport Action Canada. “There’s a major effort to remove the existing bridge, and a lot of us were not happy about that plan. We wanted right from the beginning to do the necessary repair work for this iconic bridge to continue in use.”

Frith echoed disappointment that the 124-year-old bridge will be replaced.

“Of course, we still would prefer not to replace the bridge, so it was shocking, but not surprising these days.”

--With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Kimberley Fowler