The Portage Bridge, original construction awarded to C.A. Pitts Engineering and Construction in 1971, opened to motor and pedestrian traffic in 1973 and was almost named “Louis St. Laurent”. At the time it was suggested that a “bus lane across the Portage will be named in his memory”. The provincial bridge between Quebec and Ontario joining the city of Ottawa and the City of Hull was officially opened by Public Works Minister Jean Eudes-Dube and Urban Affairs Minister Ron Basford on December 17, 1973.
It is suggested that tensions and perhaps lack of communication between Douglas Fullerton, National Capital Commission Chairman, and Senator Arthur Laing, Minister of Public Works during the construction of the bridge caused the city of Ottawa to be left out of most of the consultations, a month given, resulting in the traffic lights scenario we all know at the Ottawa River Parkway.
In 1999, in an effort to relieve traffic and encourage carpooling, two High Occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes for Buses, taxi’s and other single vehicles with more than two occupants were incorporated into the bridge structure with lights on Maisonneuve to help relieve traffic pressures.
The movement of people and traffic by the Portage bridge is still evolving between the joined cities. The Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) suggested incorporating a light train service in June 2020, from the bridge and Elgin Street running either on the surface in front of the Parliament Buildings on Wellington or underground along Sparks Street to Elgin . The Wellington Option would fulfill the 2013 Urban design and Transportation Study. On August 13, 2021, the National Capital Commission also recommended the Wellington Street STO Tramway Alignment, further entwining the two cities and increasing Ottawa downtown mobility.
Plaques, Statues and Cornerstones 