The National Capital Commission has approved its design philosophy for the eventual replacement of the 120-year-old Alexandra Bridge over the Ottawa River.

In a meeting Wednesday, the NCC’s board of directors approved the planning and design principles for the future bridge, one of the first of many steps in a 12-year-long process.

“Developed in collaboration with the project lead, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the principles provide guidance in the areas of planning, heritage protection, urban design and sustainability,” the NCC said in a release. “They will enable a future designer to develop an iconic proposal reflective of the bridge’s location and significance, while implementing innovative practices to meet key goals such as low environmental impact.”

The NCC says six principles will help guide design choices:

•  mobility and continuity of the urban fabric;
•  public space and civic experiences;
•  structure, height, proportions and lighting;
•  preservation of views and celebration of the bridge’s legacy;
•  sustainability and materiality; and
•  universal accessibility, legibility and wayfinding.

First built in 1900, the Alexandra Bridge is now one of the major connectors between Ottawa and Gatineau, with thousands of crossings per day, accounting for about nine per cent of the average daily interprovincial vehicle traffic, and about 33 per cent of all pedestrian and cyclist crossings.

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