About the Alexandra Bridge

Learn more about this bridge that connects Ontario and Quebec, and how we’re maintaining it until it’s replaced.

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About the bridge

The Alexandra Bridge is owned by the Government of Canada and maintained by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). It’s recognized as a bridge of national historic importance. Also known as the Interprovincial Bridge, it connects Sussex Drive in Ottawa and Des Allumettières Boulevard in Gatineau. It provides a link between the tourist attractions of the Byward Market and the Canadian Museum of History. It’s an example of significant engineering achievement and was designed and built by Canadians. 

Aerial view of the Alexandra Bridge from the Ottawa side of the river. It shows the steel structure of the bridge, including the steel vehicular lane.
A steel structure with a commemorative sign that reads: “1900, written: Interprovincial Bridge built by Dominion Bridge C.L. for Pontiac Pacific Jr. And Ottawa Gatineau R. The contractor was H.J. Beemer and the engineer was Guy C. Dunn.”

Operations of the bridge

Normally, about 18,000 vehicles cross the Alexandra Bridge every day. About 40% 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.

Current Alexandra Bridge projects

The Alexandra Bridge is more than 120 years old and is nearing the end of its life cycle. Over the last few years, the state of the bridge has continued to deteriorate. This will continue to result in more frequent closures to perform the necessary repair work to keep serving users.

Although the bridge is due to be replaced in the near future, we will continue carrying out repair work to keep the bridge in service as long as possible. We also inspect the bridge regularly, and we installed a monitoring system that provides us with real-time data on the state of the bridge.

Boardwalk and articulation repair project

In fall 2023, work started to repair the boardwalk and the articulation joints of the Alexandra Bridge. This project is in the construction phase.

Alexandra Bridge: Boardwalk and articulation repair project

Alexandra Bridge Replacement project

To improve transportation between Ontario and Quebec in the National Capital Region, in Budget 2019 the government mandated the replacement of the Alexandra Bridge (this was reiterated in the 2021 Mandate letter). This project is in the planning and design phase.

Alexandra Bridge: Replacement project

Related links

From: Public Services and Procurement Canada

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