City of Ottawa looking at spending up to $5.4M to put bike lanes on bridge over 417

The City of Ottawa is looking at spending up to $5.4 million to put bike lanes on a bridge over Highway 417 when it comes up for replacement in the next few years.

The City of Ottawa is looking at spending up to $5.4 million to put bike lanes on a bridge over Highway 417 when it comes up for replacement in the next few years.

A report prepared for the city's Transportation Committee outlines a plan to enter into an agreement with the Ontario government to build cycling infrastructure on a new bridge that would span across the Queensway at Maitland Avenue.

The bridge isn't due to be replaced until 2027, but staff say plans for more cycling infrastructure on Maitland Avenue date back to 2023.

"To align with the City's 2023 Transportation Master Plan, the City has requested that the Province include new cycling facilities across the bridge as part of its planned replacement. To accommodate this request, the Province requires the City to enter into a construction and maintenance agreement," the report says.

The Transportation Master Plan includes cycling infrastructure on Maitland Avenue from the Highway 417 westbound on-ramp to Riddell Ave South, including the overpass.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is designing the new bridge and a draft agreement proposes that the ministry include a cycling facility on the bridge, which would be paid for by the city.

City staff say adding the lanes would cost up to $5,403,185.84, including HST. The bill would come due some time between Jan. 1, 2026 and Dec. 31, 2027. The MTO is responsible for all other costs associated with the new bridge. With council's approval, payment for the cycling facilities would be funded through the Major Active Transportation Structures Program.