Bridge closure a blow to cyclists, but could be a boon to skiers - Action News
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Ottawa

Bridge closure a blow to cyclists, but could be a boon to skiers

A winter trail groomer is coveting the now-closed Chief William Commanda Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., as a missing ski link in his network.

City might reopen Chief William Commanda Bridge with decent snow pack

Bike advocacy group wants Chief William Commanda Bridge open for active transportation during winter

11 months ago
Duration 0:54
Dave Robertson, vice-president of Bike Ottawa, said the group would like to see the Chief William Commanda Bridge open for bikers during the winter season, as its an efficient way to link the Ottawa and Gatineau communities through active transportation. On Tuesday, the city announced it would be closing the bridge, which was not designed for winter pedestrian or cycling use, but said it was exploring the possibility of opening the bridge for winter recreation purposes like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Wednesday's frigid morning rain wouldn't have beenenough to keep Ewen Eberhardt off the Chief William CommandaBridge,but a chained-up fence and a sign stating "no winter maintenance" was.

On Tuesday the cityclosedthe recently reopened bridge linking Ottawa and Gatineau, Que.,due to safety and maintenance concerns.

"Even right now, I would have rather gone for a run and done that loop. So it's disappointing," said Eberhardt.

He uses the former railbridge four or five times a week for running, walking and cycling and called it an "excellent resource" that gives his Hintonburg community an express route to Gatineau Park.

Still, he's happy the city is doing its due diligence to preserve it through hostile winter weather.

A man in a blue coat and winter hat poses for a photo.
Ewen Eberhardt uses the Chief William Commanda Bridge four to five times a week. He's disappointed to see it close as winter weather hits, but he's also 'content' that the city is doing its due diligence to preserve the structure. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

The city's general manager of public works, Alain Gonthier, said the city usually plows and salts pathways during the winter. but that isn't possible for the bridge.

Snow removal equipment could damage the wooden planks, while salt could corrode the steel.

There arealso worries about what salt would do to the Lemieux Island Water Purification Plant right next door. Without salt, Gonthier worries that people will slip.

That doesn't mean the bridge will necessarily stay closed all winter.

While there won't be a cleared pathway, it might eventually open for walkers, skiers and snowshoers looking to enjoy a snow-packed winter trail.

"It's closed for now because we cannot keep it safe," said Gonthier.

"But if we get to a situation where we're able to have a snow pack on it and it's possible to be groomed, and we have a groomer to do it, then at that point we would reopen it up but only at a time when it's safe to do so."

A sign on a fence blocking a bridge says 'no winter maintenance'
A sign announcing that the Chief William Commanda Bridge is not being maintained. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, whose eastern ward border includes the bridge, said the community always expected to have itopen every season, probably as a groomed trail.

He doesn't want to see any delay in making that happen.

"I think what has taken us aback is that we are hearing from staff that, no, that's not moving ahead,at least for the time being, while they assess the conditions on the bridge," he said.

"Everyone when they get up on the bridge is happier and losing the bridge for the winter period would be a diminishment, Ithink, of that happiness.."

He said he'll be pushing staff to ensure they have a partner ready to groom the trail as soon as there's enough snow.

'Dream big'

That could be the volunteer-driven Kichi Sibi Winter Trail.

Manager Dave Adams said it might be a bit tougher working through the winds and winter elements on a bridge, but he'seager to start compacting snow to add a missing link to the Quebec side.

"This is what we're hoping for," he said. "It's your gateway to the Gatineau hills. Just dream. Dream big."

Groomed winter trails can accommodate pedestrians and even bikes, so long as they have those giant fat tires.

A man in an orange coat smiles for a photo outside.
Dave Adams, manager of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail, said a link to Gatineau would be a dream for his trail network. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

Dave Robertson of Bike Ottawa said thatwouldn't work well for the skinnier tires most cyclists use, and losing the pathway across the bridge will be a major hit to the region's bike network.

"This was a vital link between two communities, and such a rare link," said Robertson.

He said he was "floored" when he heard the bridge was closing. In his view, the only thing keeping the city from clearing the bridge is political will.

Instead of salt,Robertson said staff could use potassium formate, woodchips or even beet juice.

According to Robertson, keeping a cleared pathway over the river is an important way to help Ottawa meet its targets to get people moving outside of their cars.

"If we had a proper active transportation link that is properly winter maintained down to a bare surface," he said, "it would be a world difference for people to get back and forth."

Adams said a groomed trail could accomplish precisely that, as he imagines people skiing across the river to their jobs.

"I really see Ottawa-Gatineauas one community," he said."There's lots of people on the other side that need to get to work and vice versa, and having this bridge, it's just wonderful. Let's step up and make it happen."