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The Rideau River pedestrian bridge near Carleton University has been closed for the season, due to a lack of winter maintenance.
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The bridge connected Vincent Massey Park to Carleton University, making commuting easier for students. It was officially opened in June 2024. The bridge was originally meant to remain closed until the Trillium Line LRT expansion opened.
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In the last week, the bridge has been closed off with metal barriers and a sign from the city saying, “No winter maintenance.”
River ward Coun. Riley Brockington said it was “disappointing” that the bridge was built if there was a lack of intention to keep it maintained during the winter. Brockington said he and Coun. Shawn Menard worked hard to have that ”connectivity” between their wards.
“This bridge was built to be an…all-season bridge,” he said. “This bridge needs to be open and maintained in all four seasons.”
Brockington said he wanted to figure out if the lack of maintenance is a cost issue or because of the city’s hesitation to create a plowed path that leads into Vincent Massey Park’s unplowed pathway networks.
“I would even be happy with an unplowed bridge,” Brockington said. “Just keep the bridge open…for people out there for exercise, cross country skiers and snowshoers.”
Brockington said he plans to bring up the issue during the city’s budget session Dec. 11.
“The importance of active transportation connections like this bridge is [that] it should remain open,” he said.
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Serena Hoover, a third-year aerospace engineering student at Carleton University, questioned the purpose of the bridge if it was closed for half the year due to the winter season.
“I don’t really see the point of even having built the bridge,” Hoover said. “You have to go out of your way to get to where you need to go.”
Hoover said she would like to see the city adopt more initiatives and preparation ahead of the winter season.
“[They should do] something similar to what they do with the sidewalks here,” Hoover said. “I feel like it’d be pretty easy to plow and salt it.”
Jonas Letal, a second-year aerospace engineering student at Carleton University, said the closure disrupts his commute. To get to The Revalie, a student housing center near Mooney’s Bay, Letal said crossing the bridge makes his commute half an hour shorter.
“I just jumped over the fence when I had to get to my exam this morning,” Letal said. “With it closed, I would have to travel double the time to get to class.”
Letal said as long as the bridge remained open to make commuting easier, it didn’t matter to him what its condition was.
“It’s just closing it down and not allowing people to cross the river is the issue I have with it.”
More to come…
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