Kettle Island Bridge A Non-Starter: KING

I write with profound disappointment following last week’s announcement that the Government of Canada is moving forward with the next phase of the Kettle Island Bridge project through a first phase of public consultation.

Despite more than five decades of community opposition and compelling evidence against this proposal, the federal government continues to pursue what I believe is a fundamentally flawed infrastructure project.

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This newsletter excerpt from Rideau Rockcliffe Councillor Rawlson King is courtesy of the city-wide community group Your Applewood Acres (And Beyond) Neighbours

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As your representative, I have consistently opposed this bridge because it fails to serve our community’s best interests. The evidence is clear: studies show that even by 2050, this bridge would divert only 15 per cent of truck traffic from King Edward Avenue. This means the vast majority of heavy trucks would continue to rumble through our downtown core, leaving the very problem the bridge purports to solve largely unresolved.

I am pleased to report that we have strong support from our federal representative in this opposition. On June 25, Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester MP Mona Fortier released a statement firmly opposing the eastern bridge project. She echoed many of our community’s concerns, noting that the proposed corridor “does not meet Ottawa’s needs” and “does not guarantee the removal of heavy trucks from the King Edward corridor.” MP Fortier emphasized that with an estimated cost between $3 billion and $4 billion, this project “represents a major investment that does not offer clear or equitable benefits for our region.” Based on her conversations with residents and community associations, she has concluded that “this project is not a priority.”

What’s particularly concerning is that this project would simply create new traffic problems in east-end neighbourhoods without resolving existing ones. Our residents should not have to bear the burden of increased noise, pollution, and safety risks. The concept of “induced demand” tells us that new road capacity often generates additional traffic, making congestion worse, not better.

The environmental implications are equally troubling. Constructing this bridge would disrupt sensitive ecosystems along the Ottawa River and undermine our City’s climate commitments. For a community that values our natural spaces and environmental stewardship, this represents an unacceptable step backward.

It is clear that this proposed multi-billion-dollar project represents a staggering misallocation of public funds. These resources could be far better invested in improving local transit, addressing our housing crisis, improving local infrastructure, and tackling urgent social issues like homelessness and the opioid epidemic that directly impact our residents’ daily lives.

The federal government’s decision to proceed with pre-planning, despite clear community opposition and questionable benefits, demonstrates a concerning disconnect from local voices. However, they are required to conduct public consultation, and this gives us an important opportunity to make our opposition heard loud and clear.

With municipal and federal representatives united in opposition to this project, we have a strong foundation for our advocacy efforts. MP Fortier has committed to continuing to advocate for the project to be re-evaluated, calling for “a winning approach for the entire National Capital Region—a modern vision, grounded in up-to-date data, that respects our communities and supports our shared future.”

I strongly encourage every concerned resident to participate in the survey running from June 19 to July 10, 2025. This is your chance to formally register concerns and objections. The federal government needs to hear that our community does not want this bridge. Your participation in this survey is crucial – it will become part of the official record submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

… Emphasize the concerns our community has raised: minimal benefits for truck traffic, environmental damage, impacts on our neighbourhoods, and the enormous cost. Every voice matters, and collectively we can demonstrate the strength of community opposition to this misguided project. Ottawa deserves infrastructure investments that prioritize sustainability, community well-being, and fiscal responsibility. The Kettle Island Bridge fails on all these fronts.

For You:

Build The East-End Bridge Now: GRAY

Cars Won’t Disappear From Ottawa Roads: CRERAR

City Council: Use Power To Change: BENN

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