Overbrook prefers Kettle Island for bridge, Community calls for relief on congested Vanier Parkway

Posted Nov 22, 2012 By Michelle Nash

EMC news - The Overbrook Community Association has named Kettle Island as the best possible choice for an east-end interprovincial bridge.

The association has stayed mum on this issue until now, but a week before its 2012 annual general meeting, president Sheila Perry released the association's stance on the need for an interprovincial bridge.

"It is our belief that a new bridge must be built to serve the current and future needs of eastern Ottawa and Gatineau, and that the three options currently under review as part of the NCC interprovincial environment assessment process deserve full consideration," Perry wrote.

"Of the three route options, it is our view that the Kettle Island option offers the most direct and shortest connection between Ontario Hwy. 417 and Quebec Hwy. 50 and would be the most effective option in serving the cross river needs for the largest number of persons."

LETTER TO MAYOR

The letter was addressed to Mayor Jim Watson and National Capital Commission interim chief executive Jean-Francois Trepanier, and copied to Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Peter Clark, MPP Madeleine Meilleur and MP Mauril Bélanger.

The decision comes one year after the association's board committed to drafting a formal opinion on the interprovincial issue at its 2011 annual general meeting.

In the letter, Perry said the community association was aware of the concerns of the neighbouring residents about the impact of an east-end bridge at Kettle Island.

But it is the best location to reduce the flow of interprovincial traffic that continually travels through the Overbrook and King Edward communities, the letter stated.

The association added that in choosing Kettle Island as an option, mitigation measures are needed, such as noise barriers and pollution solutions for the neighbourhoods affected.

"We support this option with the proviso that the National Capital Commission and other bridge sponsors work to minimize the impacts of such a bridge on existing Ottawa and Gatineau communities along the chosen route," the letter said.

The association also wants to see a thorough study of pedestrian and cycling routes, including having a bridge solely for pedestrian and cycling traffic and says that above all, an interprovincial bridge should incorporate transit, high-occupancy lanes, bicycle and broad sidewalks. They are also calling for fewer trucks in Ottawa's downtown core,

"It is our association's view that all development in the National Capital Region should be designed and where practicable, retrofitted to include priority provision for public transportation use," Perry said in the letter.

The firm in charge of the interprovincial crossing environmental assessment - Roche-Genivar - has been examining three corridors: Kettle Island, Lower Duck and Gatineau Airport/McLaurin Bay. The company held its final consultation about the preferred corridor in June.

The community association has participated in the NCC consultation process. The preferred corridor is expected to be announced before the end of the year.