Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), in partnership with the National Capital Commission (NCC), have a vision that the new signature bridge will be a sustainable transportation connection, promoting active travel and transforming it into a unique civic place, respectful of the integrity of the national capital’s cultural landscape.  

Working as an integrated project team with PSPC and the NCC, Arup is the technical advisor for the Alexandra Bridge replacement project. Arup will be developing bridge design options which will be further developed and taken forward into construction. Our multidisciplinary team is providing support in the areas of planning, heritage preservation, urban design, sustainability, impact assessment, procurement, and delivery.  

The new bridge over the Kichi Zībī (the Algonquin name of the Ottawa River) will offer an opportunity to serve as a model for sustainability and to play its part in connecting current and future generations. Its design process is made all the more comprehensive drawing inspiration from Indigenous cultures and Western perspectives in the heart of Canada’s capital city.

Inspired by the past and designed for the future

First opened in 1901, the existing bridge spans the Ottawa River connecting pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists from Ottawa, Ontario, and Gatineau, Quebec in Canada’s two most populous provinces. It is also a key part of the Confederation Boulevard ceremonial route through the heart of the nation’s capital. With the old bridge having reached the end of its life cycle, the sustainable design of the new bridge is an opportunity to reconnect with the river and the land, and to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists and views of the surrounding natural landscape. 

Inspired by the past and designed for the future, the new bridge will strive to respond to the challenge of both becoming an enduring landmark while recognizing and respecting Indigenous communities and those who have inhabited the land more recently.

As an early adopter of Envision—a sustainability framework and rating system designed to help infrastructure stakeholders implement more sustainable, resilient, and equitable projects—Arup aims to deliver projects that benefit its users, enhance local biodiversity, and incorporate sustainable development principles. The project’s sustainable design and construction that includes the dismantling of the old bridge, will be in line with the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, which outlines the Government of Canada’s sustainability priorities, goals and targets that also aim to advance the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Render of the 'Echo' design concept for the Alexandra Bridge replacement - with pedestrians on the walkway. Image courtesy of National Capital Commission.

Render of the 'Rendez-Vous' Alexandra Bridge design concept. Image courtesy of National Capital Commission.

Render of the 'Motion' Alexandra Bridge design concept. Image courtesy of National Capital Commission.

Supporting nation-to-nation Indigenous engagement

Arup, as part of the integrated project team, is striving to deliver a bridge design that is informed by input from Indigenous communities, the public, partners, stakeholders, and independent advisors. By incorporating Indigenous and community perspectives in the initial stages of the project and throughout, the project team and Arup are supporting nation-to-nation Indigenous engagement, bringing Indigenous communities and organizations into the planning and design phase. Workshops and site visits have served as a useful forum for listening to Indigenous views, so that they can be woven into the emerging design.

We are rising to the challenge of not only ensuring that the new bridge respects the river and the landscape in and on which it will be built, but also serves as a unifying symbol for all of Canada’s peoples while allowing users and visitors to experience the great river that flows through the Ottawa-Gatineau area.

Responsive to practical needs and true to structural demands

Bridges are feats of engineering, and Arup is a firm believer that bridges should be both responsive to practical needs and true to structural demands. At the same time, focusing on architecture and attention to detail help to elevate what might be an ordinary structure to something extraordinary.

By working hand in glove with our architectural, engineering and heritage partners, our bridge designers are striving to deliver a bridge that delights Canadians and is as well-loved as its predecessor.

A design to support multiple modes of transportation

Arup is advising on the planning and design for the bridge that supports multiple modes of transportation. The bridge will prioritize the safety and active mobility of pedestrians, cyclists, and users of other mobility devices with opportunities to rest while contemplating the river and observe the city landmarks along the way. A portion of the bridge deck will be designed to allow for future rail-based transit, such as a tramway.

Partners & collaborators

ASI / Cambium Indigenous Professional Services / Cima+ / Dillon Consulting Ltd / ERA / Geostack / Knight Architects / Monument-Urso Surveying Ltd / Provencher Roy / Ray Gosselin Architect Ltd / T2UE