Overview
The City of Ottawa has commenced the Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge Renewal Environmental Assessment (EA) Study. This combined notice serves as the formal Notice of Study Commencement and Notice of Public Information Session.
The Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge (SN018600), built in 1898, is 160 m in length, crossing the Rideau River just south of Highway 417. The Bridge carried a single railway track on the former CP Rail Montreal & Ottawa Subdivision until its abandonment in 1966 and was re-purposed by 1972 to carry only pedestrian and cycling traffic. The bridge provides an important multi-use active transportation link between the National Capital Commission’s (NCC) Rideau River Eastern Pathway and the City of Ottawa’s (City) Rideau River Western Pathway / Rideau River Nature Trail. In 2018, a Detailed Condition Assessment was completed and concluded that the structure was in overall poor condition, with several components showing significant signs of deterioration. The general project area is shown below.
Study Process and Timeline
The study will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of a Schedule B project as outlined in the Municipal Class EA process, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023. The study will define the needs and opportunities, review existing conditions, develop and evaluate a range of alternative solutions for bridge renewal or replacement considering different alignment possibilities, and identify a preferred solution that is cost effective, technically feasible and minimizes impact on the environment.
As part of the study process, a Project File Report will be prepared to document the planning process and to present the Preferred Solution. The report will also identify future commitments and approvals required to implement the project. The final Project File Report will be available for review by the public and review agencies for a period of 30 calendar days. The study is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.
Virtual public consultation
Date and time
The City of Ottawa will be hosting an online consultation on the Old Railway Rideau River Pedestrian Bridge Renewal Environmental Assessment (EA) study.
The presentation material will be available on the City of Ottawa website one day prior to the event and will be presented during the consultation.
Please register if you wish to participate.
The consultation process involves many stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, regulatory agencies and landowners, interest groups and the general public.
Please provide your comments to the City's project manager by November 20, 2024.
Kosta Karadakis, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Infrastructure Assessment Engineer – Structures
City of Ottawa
Infrastructure and Water Services Department
Asset Management Services
100 Constellation Drive, 6th Floor East
Ottawa, Ontario K2G 6J8
How to get involved
If you have any questions or comments, or would like to be included on the project’s notification list, please respond to the email address shown below.
Thank You
Kosta Karadakis, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Infrastructure Assessment Engineer – Structures
City of Ottawa
Infrastructure and Water Services Department
Asset Management Services
100 Constellation Drive, 6th Floor East
Ottawa, Ontario K2G 6J8