Good evening

The Manor Park community - along with over 10 other communities impacted by the proposed Kettle Island Bridge - has opposed this project over last few decades. While the arguments against the porpoposed project was lengthy 20 years ago, this list along with the negative impact continues growing as these communities expand and increase density.

I acknowledge that a solution is required to alleviate the heavy downtown truck traffick. However, it is unclear how this project will address the key issues, in the short and medium term, given that the estimated truck usage is insufficient to remedie the downtown problem. In the meantime, it will duplicate the problem that was created when the King Edward corridor was implemented. Furthermore, the project is not forward looking as it does not take into account densification in the effected neighborhoods or future urban sprawl. The investment of the estimated $2B may create more problems and provide no benefits for these neighborhoods. A tunnel under Kingn Edward along with a bridge further to the east - to adress increased future needs - may prove to be a better use of tax payers money.

The proposal and analysis is devoid of any policy solutions to reduce the truck traffick volumn. Can the government(s) impose restrictions on trucks using Ottawa as a crossing point? While it is probably the cheapest route, could those trucks that are not bound for Ottawa be "encouraged" to use a different and longer route? Yes, it would make some goods more expensive and add to pollution, or a reduction in available and maybe nonessential goods? Is this proposed bridge worth all the negative externalities it will download to these allready stressed neighborhoods. I think not. There are so many reasons for halting this process and taking a fresh look at finding solutions. The adverse impact of the proposed project keep me awake at night.

My neighbours have provided ample rational including the following. 

1. "The addional traffic and pollution expected the trucks and other vehicles using the proposed bridge will further congest already densly populated neiborhoods". All modes of transportation will be impacted - as a cyclist, pedestrian and public trandport user are already struggling to get around. My observations are that vehicles traffick increases every yr and impeed my prefered modes of transportation. Adding to this more truck traffick and more vehicles traffick will make getting around an even greater challenge. 

2 .   "Also most levels of government including the City of Ottawa and Gatineau are not in favour of this bridge location.   Although this appears to be a NIMBY response by many, it is actually an outcry that the proposed solutions have not been well thought through and that this Bridge will become another white elephant for the City, which can be added to the other recent poor decisions on the LRT, buses routings and Landsdowne Park, to name a few". 

3. "This new bridge will primarily benefit commercial trucking companies". 

4. "It will cause unacceptable environmental (river, air, land, animals, fish and birds) and noise pollution. It will endanger public safety by increasing collisions between commercial semi-trailers with pedestrians and/or other vehicles".

(One can not help wonder if developers north of the proposed project will benefit significantly as less expensive land will be developed and become more attractive to potential buyers).

5. Montfort Hospital Imaging and Emergency access (submitted by Chantal Jauvin) 

The proposed Eastern Bridge corridor introduces measurable operational risks to the primary medical facility in Ottawa's East End. Technical reviews in the federal impact registry indicate that routing a high volume of interprovincial transport trucks along the Aviation Parkway will generate low-frequency ground vibrations that could threaten the stability required for Montfort’s sensitive MRI and cardiac imaging equipment. Traffic studies also show that adding this heavy-vehicle volume will compound existing peak-hour bottlenecks at major intersections like Montreal Road and the Highway 417 split. This added logistical pressure on local arterial roads creates a very real risk of secondary delays for emergency vehicles navigating the area, potentially compromising critical ambulance response times.It will have a negative impact of the sensitive medical equipment at the Montfort Hospital, hospital patients and residents of their long-term care home, all of which are right next to the Aviation Parkway, where hundreds of semis will run 24/7. There are many, many, many more reasons why building a bridge at Kettle Island should be nixed, once and for all.

6. "With environmental issues being one of our greatest priorities, threatening  human existence, it is absolutely inappropriate to consider the  environmentally-destructive project that building a bridge at Kettle Island would be (due to the negative environmental impacts that both the bridge construction and resulting  increased vehicle pollution (noise, air, water, land, birds, fish, animals)". 

Building a tunnel, underneath King Edward Avenue, is the ONLY feasible option. Maintaining the existing above-ground commercial trucking corridor on King Edward AND building a second one, via new bridge at Kettle Island, won’t solve the myriad problems on King Edward (e.g. pollution; pedestrian fatalities, traffic congestion, etc.) but, rather, would only spread them to more neighbourhoods. This is completely unacceptable! Again, a tunnel under King Edward is the only feasible solution that remedies the disgraceful situation on King Edward AND does not duplicate it elsewhere.

People and the environment ought to be the most important considerations; not the interests of the commercial trucking industry and its preferred location for a new trucking corridor.