Third Crossing

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Consultation has concluded

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Learn more about the 'Detailed Impact Assessment' (DIA) with Parks Canada currently underway.


The City of Kingston is building a Third Crossing bridge across the Cataraqui River from the foot of Gore Road in the city's east-end to the foot of John Counter Boulevard in its west-end. The new bridge connecting the east and west side communities will improve emergency services response, increase active transportation through a multi-use pedestrian and bike pathway, create business connections on the east and west sides of the river, and help residents get to work on time and back home safely. It will be a new bridge designed to enhance the life of community residents and visitors of Kingston meeting the highest engineering standards.

The bridge is the largest infrastructure project the City has ever undertaken and is being funded by all three levels of government – each contributing $60 million.

This project is being led by a project team that is looking forward to connecting with you and hearing your ideas and innovations about integrating our new bridge in the Kingston community.


Third Crossing Banner


Learn more about the 'Detailed Impact Assessment' (DIA) with Parks Canada currently underway.


The City of Kingston is building a Third Crossing bridge across the Cataraqui River from the foot of Gore Road in the city's east-end to the foot of John Counter Boulevard in its west-end. The new bridge connecting the east and west side communities will improve emergency services response, increase active transportation through a multi-use pedestrian and bike pathway, create business connections on the east and west sides of the river, and help residents get to work on time and back home safely. It will be a new bridge designed to enhance the life of community residents and visitors of Kingston meeting the highest engineering standards.

The bridge is the largest infrastructure project the City has ever undertaken and is being funded by all three levels of government – each contributing $60 million.

This project is being led by a project team that is looking forward to connecting with you and hearing your ideas and innovations about integrating our new bridge in the Kingston community.


Consultation has concluded

Ask us your questions about the Third Crossing project and a team member will respond within 5 business days.


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    Why has the city not approached the Federal Government (DND) to open a gate to the base off of Gore Road. This would likely remove 50% of the rush hour traffic from Highway 15 as these car are coming from Greenwood Park subdivision and could enter the base from this entrance. This will become even more important with the completion of the third crossing.

    Richard Porritt asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for the question. The Highway 15 EA project team has discussed this with CFB staff and they have confirmed there are no plans at this time to pursue internal connectivity to Gore Road due primarily to conflicts with existing Base operations.

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    Would be cool to see a detailed time line

    Dann asked over 5 years ago

    Agreed and definitely something the project team has planned. Once we are into detailed design  and have a better breakdown of timing and we will communicate that out to residents. Thank you for the comment and the interest in the project.

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    When is the completion date for this project?

    AaronP35 asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for the question and the interest in the project. Completion is anticipated for 2022. As the team continues the work on the detailed design of the bridge we will have a better sense of exactly when in 2022.

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    The last I had heard, it sounded like the final design was only going to be two lanes after all. I'm worried that in typical Kingston fashion we'll build it and it won't meet our needs causing us to spend much more than we would to expand in the future. I really hope that there is a push to go with at least the 3 lane option with the 4 lane substructure.

    PWatson asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for the question and the interest in the project. Based on the approved Environmental Assessment the bridge will be a two lane structure with an additional multi-use path. This final design takes into consideration the future growth of the city as well as the increased use of transit and active transportation in the design.

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    Does the change in provincial government effect funding for the third crossing?

    mmina asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you fore the question and the interest in the Third Crossing. The change of provincial government will not impact the project funding. We have signed agreements with both the province and the federal government and have now selected the team to design and build the bridge. 

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    Over the past few years construction work has been done on JCB from Division to Portsmouth creating a multi-lane roadway and eventually to create a new overpass over the CN Rail line. With the building of the third crossing result in the portion of JCB from Division to the third crossing and will the multi-lane roadway continue over the third crossing to Hwy 15? This would create an east-west multi-lane roadway connecting the communities both in the east and west and reduce the commuting time and accomodate future housing developments on the east side of the city, resulting in increased traffic.

    Mickey16 asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for your question.

    The City is nearing the completion of the Active Transportation Master Plan which lays out the plan of where active transportation upgrades are proposed in order to meet the City's goal to reduce the reliance on motor vehicles.  Although the linkage of JCB from Division to Montreal Street already exists via on-road cycling lanes and sidewalk, upgrading to an off-road trail is independent of the Third Crossing Project. 

    The Third Crossing will have a multi-use pathway on the bridge that is separated from motor vehicle traffic and will transition to connect to major intersections on Montreal St and Hwy 15.

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    Will this bridge threaten some of the last green spaces down town? The Wellington Street Extension, Leroy Grant drive? Shouldn't we be focusing on making the rest of the city more pedestrian friendly?

    nclaan asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for your question.

    The project will be situated on two shore lands with the west shore being John Counter and the east shore being Gore Road.  The completion of the Third Crossing will increase the amount of green space on the west shore when compared to the buildings and private property (non-green space) that exists there today.  There will be a temporary borrowing of green space on the east side during construction since this space will be used to provide construction area space for equipment and logistics.  Once the Third Crossing is complete, the east lands will be reinstated back to green space.  Located under Final Preliminary Design Summary Report, Part 2, there are landscape drawings on report pages 150,151,152 that illustrate the green space and trail networks on both shores and the multi-use pathway on the bridge proper. 

    https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/projects-construction/archive/third-crossing/phases/action-plan?p_p_id=56_INSTANCE_IIh88AGc8J8O&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=_118_INSTANCE_mIrojY3TeRAO__column-1&p_p_col_pos=3&p_p_col_count=4


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    What steps are being taken to protect and preserve the Library building at the corner of Gore Rd and Hwy 15?

    hross asked over 5 years ago

    Council has approved an expansion of the library that will be managed independently from the Third Crossing project.  Although the Third Crossing Project will be working around the library lands, the Third Crossing construction area that was planned during the preliminary design phase is anticipated to have minimal impact on the library lands. There is a sketch of the construction laydown area on report page 159 of the preliminary design summary report.  The measures to help protect the library site will include proper separation via construction fencing and signage and notification and potentially temporary access modifications if needed.  The Third Crossing team will continue making refinements to explore further opportunities to reduce site impacts as the validation and detailed design progresses leading up to construction in summer 2019.  https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/projects-construction/archive/third-crossing/phases/action-plan?p_p_id=56_INSTANCE_IIh88AGc8J8O&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=_118_INSTANCE_mIrojY3TeRAO__column-1&p_p_col_pos=3&p_p_col_count=4


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    Does the budget for building this bridge include completion of developments on John Counter Blvd. further west, specifically the railway overpass and redevelopment of approaches to the railway station?

    hross asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for your question.

    The Third Crossing project does not include the completion of the John Counter Boulevard overpass section.  The overpass project is being funded by a separate budget that has been approved by Council as part of the multi-year capital plan.  Please visit the city's webpage for more info on the overpass project.  https://www.cityofkingston.ca/city-hall/projects-construction/john-counter-boulevard

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    Will there be a protected crossing for pedestrians? And, will there be a protected crossing for cyclists (i.e. a barrier between cyclists and vehicles)? Thanks for the opportunity to be part of this project.

    spatel asked over 5 years ago

    Thank you for your question.

    The Preliminary Design proposed a shared multi-use pathway on the bridge proper which would then connect to both shores and be integrated into the waterfront trail network.  The shared multi-use path would be physically separated from car traffic along the bridge.