The bridge connects Pembroke with Allumettes Island in Quebec and carries 7,000 vehicles a day over the Ottawa River.
"The surrounding communities rely on the bridge for access to employment, shopping, and services, as well as tourism and outdoor recreation activities," a release stated.
Design work should be finished by winter 2013, with bids for the construction solicited in summer 2013. Overall work is scheduled to be completed in 2016.
The news comes on the heels of several announced bridge upgrades in the Ottawa area the past few weeks.
On Friday, Public Works announced McCormick Rankin Corp. would provide engineering services as part of the upgrades to the Chaudière Crossing.
In January, MMM Group Ltd. and CIMA+ SENC received a $1.8-million engineering design contract in relation to rehabilitating the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge.
Other opportunities are forthcoming to fix up the Macdonald-Cartier Bridge, Alexandra Bridge and Chaudière Crossing, with work such as seismic retrofits, steel repairs and protective recoating.
Work will begin on these projects between 2012 and 2013 and is expected to take between two and three years, depending on the situation. More details will be released on Merx, Public Works stated in mid-January.
