(Updated 10 a.m., April 6)
Group builds case against ‘Greenbelt’ bridge options
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Every morning when Louis Caron wakes up and looks out the back window of his home on Voyageur Drive he’s treated to one of the most idyllic views in the east end.

Beyond his backyard is about 50 yards of greenspace which fronts onto the Ottawa River. On the other side of the river is a wetland that forms part of McLaurin Bay.

It’s not unusual for Caron to spot a fox, rabbits or even the odd deer roaming past as well as the occasional cyclist or jogger who often use the pathway which runs along the Ottawa River all the way to Parliament Hill.

But these days when Caron looks out his back window he can’t help but envision a bridge spoiling his view and a steady stream of cars and trucks filling the now still air with a constant din. Such would be the case if Option 7 of the interprovincial bridge study ever came to fruition.

Caron is part of a broad-based coalition of far east end residents and community associations which has dubbed itself “Common Sense Crossings”.

Their mission is to inform, advise and influence the citizens of the National Capital Region, political leaders and the decision-makers against selecting either one of Options 6 or 7 which they feel will not only turn Hwy. 174 into the NCR’s largest parking lot, but destroy the Greenbelt as well,

Both options have been included in the second phase of the interprovincial bridge study along with Kettle Island, which was identified in Phase 1 of the study as the ideal location for a future bridge crossing.

“Common Sense Crossings” plans to reinforce the arguments made by the authors of the first phase of the study which supports Kettle Island as the logical choice for a bridge, but their main focus will be on discrediting and debunking the other two choices which they are calling the “Greenbelt” options because they would slice through the northeast section of the Greenbelt between Green’s Creek and Convent Glen North.

Besides the fact the two options would destroy a large section of the Greenbelt, the coalition is also concerned about the impact they would have on Hwy. 174 in terms of increased traffic and gridlock, the additional costs that would be incurred by building the bridge in Orléans as opposed to Kettle Island, and the costs that would be incurred in terms of the number of homes that would have to be expropriated on the Quebec side.

Caron says the group has been doing its homework and plans to get involved in the process when it resumes next fall.

Phase 2 of the study will refine all three options and include a detailed Environmental Assessment for all three potential sites. It is expected to take three years to complete.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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