Macdonald Cartier Bridge Surface and Girder Coating Renewal

The Macdonald-Cartier Bridge spans between Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec over the Ottawa River. It is one of five interprovincial crossings and one of two truck crossings between the cities. The crossing links King Edward Avenue in Ottawa, Ontario with Autoroute 5 in Gatineau, Quebec.  The Macdonald-Cartier Bridge Wearing Surface and Girder Coating Renewal project will consist of the following construction activities:

Work on surface of the bridge deck:

  • Wearing Surface Renewal: Mill off the top surface of asphalt and replace with a new asphalt layer.
  • Expansion Joint Renewal: Replacement of buried expansion joints in the deck.

Work under the bridge deck:

  • Installation of suspended scaffolding and platforms underneath the bridge deck to perform encapsulation work.
  • Existing coatings will be cleaned, and surfaces will be prepared to receive new encapsulation. Areas with localized deterioration will have the existing coating removed, and those surfaces will be prepared for application of the new coating system. Encapsulation is the process of applying a protective coating over an existing surface to seal it, prevent deterioration, and isolate it from environmental exposure or contaminants.
  • Steel repairs including treatment of rust jacking, repairs to minor steel components, and replacement of deteriorated catwalk sections.

Work below the bridge:

  • Rehabilitation of concrete piers above and below the waterline.
  • Abutment Masonry repairs
  • Southwest Bridge Slope Protection Improvement – area located next to the abutment. Construct a new retaining wall on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River, within the 100-year floodplain.
  • All laydown and staging areas will be reinstated after construction is completed.

More

Latest update

January 10, 2026 – The public comment period on the project is closed. The authorities are considering comments received to help inform its determination on whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 Macdonald Cartier Bridge Surface and Girder Coating Renewal - December 10, 2025

Contacts

Environment, Health and Safety
Public Services and Procurement Canada
11 Laurier Street
Portage III, Place du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0S5
Email: TPSGC.RCNLVEEListedeControle-NCRECMPChecklist.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • MacDonald-Cartier Bridge (Ontario)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified
    • Bridges

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2025-12-10

  • Proponent

    PSPC, NCC, TC

  • Authorities

    • National Capital Commission
    • Public Services and Procurement Canada
    • Transport Canada

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    85842

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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