NCC Breaks Own Traffic Rules At Champlain Bridge

Published 06/22/2023 · Updated 06/24/2023

The National Capital Commission is breaking its own rules concerning traffic on the Champlain Bridge.

In a release from March 9, the NCC said that two lanes of traffic would be maintained through its construction from March until November.

This from the release:

Two lanes, one in each direction, will remain open at all times. Motorists can expect delays as the open lanes will be narrower, and the maximum speed limit will be reduced to 40 km/h. Road signage will be in place.

In fact in recent days, only one lane is open and that traffic is being directed by construction workers who stop traffic in one direction constantly. North-south traffic can get through but only at a trickle.

The result are hour-long delays on the Ottawa River Parkway to get to the bridge … in mid-day. Traffic is also monstrously backed up on Island Park Drive.

The problems are increased by the parkway being reduced to one lane in each direction due to delays in the construction of the extended Confederation Line LRT along the parkway route. That means that drivers are delayed in just getting by the bridge let alone using it.

Meanwhile, the Chaudiere Bridge is closed until July thus causing large traffic jams on the Portage Bridge as traffic from the Champlain and Chaudiere bridges tries to cross the border there. The only other bridges across the Ottawa River are the Alexandra and the Macdonald-Cartier.

The Alexandra is slated to be demolished and an east-end bridge has been pondered innumerable times but has yet to show.