Ottawa given 3 choices for new interprovincial bridge

Ottawa's National Capital Commission is looking at three possible routes Ottawa and Gatineau residents could take to cross the river that runs between them.

One site — Kettle Island — was already being considered for Ottawa's new interprovincial bridge.

But the NCC has put two more sites into the running so they can be put through the required environmental assessment process.

Those sites are further east on Lower Duck Island.

And that has many of the residents of the Kettle Island community relieved.

Residents in Manor Park and along the Aviation Parkway have been fighting the Kettle Island proposal because they say it would bring more truck traffic and pollution into their neighbourhoods.

Judy Lishman, a resident of Manor Park, said she thinks putting the bridge further east makes more sense.

"The major problem that people in the east have is not really the impact on the health and safety of the community," she said, "because the trucks won't go through."

"What they're worried about are the extra five minutes of traffic."

Those concerns, she said, can't quite be compared.

But the residents of Orleans say that Kettle Island, the city's "preferred" route, could still be the best option for Ottawa.

"Only recently have we in the east end have become concerned," said John Looper, a resident of Orleans. He says that's because, "we're shown that the recommendations in the report are being hijacked by the other groups."

The study, originally intended for Kettle Island, will now take an extra year and cost an additional $5 million.

Looking at all three options is expected to cost $9 million and take four years.