The City of Ottawa has closed a recently opened pedestrian pathway spanning the Rideau River for the winter season.
The bridge, which connects Carleton University to Vincent Massy Park, officially opened to the public in June after lengthy delays.
The city closed the bridge on Friday for the winter because it was “no longer safe for public use.” The city says the National Capital Commission (NCC) pathways on the south end of the bridge are not winter maintained or groomed for winter recreational activities and the city does not plan to maintain the bridge for winter.
“With the snow accumulation this past weekend and colder temperatures expected to continue, Public Works closed the bridge,” said the city’s director of roads and parking services Quentin Levesque.
“Public safety is our top priority, and this decision was made to ensure everyone’s safety during winter conditions. We are working with all parties, including the NCC and the City of Ottawa’s Rail Construction Program, to explore the feasibility of maintaining the bridge during the winter.”
The massive one-piece steel structure was originally installed in July 2022 and expected an opening four months later. The bridge and its installation was part of the Line 2 north-south LRT proposal, which kept the footbridge closed until the train got the green light to open.
The decision to close the path follows the controversial decision to close the Chief William Commanda Bridge over the Ottawa River for the season last week. Residents and some city councillors have expressed frustration that the bridge was not designed for cycling or pedestrian use in the winter.