Extra section of Rideau Canal Skateway opens after Winterlude wraps up

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has opened an additional section of the Rideau Canal Skateway, meaning visitors can now skate along a stretch between Waverley and Bank streets.

In a social media post Tuesday afternoon, the NCC said the new section opened to skaters at 2 p.m., but rentals are not yet available.

The NCC is warning visitors to be mindful of the ice under the Pretoria Bridge and Highway 417.

Now, atotal of3.3 kilometres of ice are open to skaters, according to the NCC website.The skateway runs a total length of 7.8 kilometres.

On Monday, the NCC opened up a shorter section of the skatewaybetween the Pretoria Bridge and Bank Street, just in time for the final day of Winterlude.

A season of shaky openings

On Sunday the NCCbriefly let visitors onto the skateway,but recommended walking the canal instead of skating due to "very poor" ice conditions at the time.

That opening only lastedsix hours. The NCC closed the skateway at 6 p.m. on Sundayto do "intensive ice maintenance."

Skaters got another chance on Jan. 21, when the NCC opened a short stretch between Bank Street and Pretoria Avenue. But that opening only lasted a few days until the weather forced the NCC to shut it down.

Ice on the canalneeds to beat least 30 centimetres thick before the skateway can safely open,even thicker if the quality is poor.