There was plenty of public and media speculation in the hours leading up to Kingston’s much-hyped announcement on the third bridge crossing.

Would the Feds actually cough up their one-third share of the cash to build it?

Turns out, there was really no suspense at all, at least among politicians in the know.

The final piece of the bridge puzzle was connected some time before the formal public announcement was made at City Hall on February 21.

The $60 million federal funding share was actually approved about two weeks ago, but the media event was delayed until Parliament was on a brief mid-winter break. That allowed Kingston and The Islands MP Mark Gerretsen time to return to his riding to take centre stage at the funding announcement.

Indeed, Gerretsen and Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson both knew the cheque was on the way well in advance of unveiling the funding commitment to a full house at Memorial Hall. Both sworn to secrecy, of course.

Even though MPP Sophie Kiwala couldn’t attend the announcement – with the Ontario Legislature in session – she was still pictured with Gerretsen and Paterson in a photo-op that was obviously taken several days before the good news event.

Political leaders from all 3 levels of government pose for photo-op, apparently in advance of Feb. 21 bridge funding announcement. Source: Twitter/@Mark Gerretsen

MP Gerretsen posted a short, somewhat humorous video on his Twitter account showing himself, Kiwala and the mayor holding three pieces of a jigsaw puzzle – each cut-out included a section of the bridge with a $60 million figure – and they are shown connecting the cardboard puzzle together. The video looks like it was taken at the end of John Counter Blvd., on the western shore of the bridge landing point, with plenty of snow in the scenes (a dated giveaway since the city had been deluged with a February snow melt and rain in recent days.)

Not that anyone should complain about the staged timing. It’s what politicians often do.

Gerretsen himself was hesitant to take much credit for securing the federal share, noting it was MPP Kiwala and the provincial government’s $60 million contribution from last June that really got the ball rolling. Once the province decides on a priority infrastructure project, the feds are much more likely to chip in their share, he added.

Few will remember how the announcement went down.

What people will remember is that Kingston has managed to finalize a vision that’s been talked about for decades. You’ll see the real evidence of that in just over a year from now when the three-year long construction of the S-shaped bridge begins, spanning 1.1 kilometres over the Cataraqui River with two lanes of traffic and a dedicated multi-use pathway.

Early concept design of the third bridge crossing linking John Counter Blvd to Gore Road in Kingston

City engineers and other officials are now under pressure to meet the mid-2019 construction start. They have much groundwork to do in a short period of time, including finding a project management team to oversee the construction and finances of the $180 million ‘fixed price contract’ which, according to the mayor, will not rely on a local tax increase. Expect the RFP to go out soon, seeking qualified bidders to undertake the complex job.

For now, the bridge naysayers are largely silent, allowing supporters to bask in the glow of securing the last piece of the puzzle to finance the city’s biggest infrastructure project in modern times.

Could this money have been spent on other pressing municipal priorities like affordable housing or public transit? Perhaps.

But the will of this council and previous ones, staff legwork, community support, coupled with Ontario and federal politicians in Liberal ridings of Liberal governments, made sure the bridge money will be there.

The time for this project has come.