Green Light for Buckingham: Easing Traffic Congestion

Mélissa Gélinas

Due to increasing traffic congestion in Buckingham, particularly toward the Brady Bridge, City Councillor Edmond Leclerc announced at the September 16 City Council meeting, improvements to the traffic lights located at both ends of the bridge.

These improvements consist of adding a flashing signal to the green light for vehicles turning left off the Brady Bridge toward Georges Street and synchronizing the traffic lights at the beginning and end of the bridge to facilitate traffic flow during rush hour, i.e., mornings and afternoons.

These adjustments are planned for the coming weeks and will become permanent by November, according to Leclerc. "This is excellent news that will come very quickly," he emphasized.

It should be noted that the traffic light at the intersection of Georges and Maclaren West was installed in January 2025. "When you install new traffic lights, there are always adjustments to be made in the first year," he explained.

Leclerc emphasized that the installation of these lights was primarily for safety reasons, not efficiency. "It's true that traffic flowed more smoothly before," he commented. "However, I am convinced that we will make significant progress with these adjustments."

Despite some residents' concerns about traffic congestion for firefighters, Leclerc reassured the public that there was no danger. Indeed, the City of Gatineau is reportedly equipped with a system to clear lanes within an 800-meter radius, allowing fire trucks to move quickly, even during peak periods. For example, if a truck leaves the fire station in Buckingham for an operation on the other side of the bridge, the lane will already be clear before its arrival, due to the way the traffic lights are synchronized via the system.