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City council has chosen Kettle Island as the preferred location to build an interprovincial bridge.
Council slashed the number of options to build a bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau from eight to one and will recommend the location to the consultants reviewing the project.
Last week, three east-end councillors — Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess, Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett and Orleans Coun. Bob Monette — agreed the island crossing is the right choice.
Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Jacques Legendre, who doesn’t favour the location, said the final decision isn’t up to council.
“It’s simply an opinion,” he said. “The EA (environmental assessment) team will examine all the corridors. We don’t have any status.”
Three west-end locations were being considered, but Bay Coun. Alex Cullen said there isn’t the demand from Ontarians to cross over into West Quebec because the bulk of the jobs that West Quebecers work at in Ottawa are downtown.
A study being conducted by the National Capital Commission is attempting to identify two Ottawa River crossings to be built over the next 20 to 50 years.
The NCC-led study had identified eight river crossings — three in west end and five in the east — for future bridges or tunnels.
The study will consider the city’s decision this fall, when it’s expected to narrow the list of potential sites.
Ottawa Sun