When Is A City Bridge Open But Not Opened?

08/05/2023

Pardon the confusion.

The Chief William Commanda Bridge (the former Prince of Wales Bridge) is now open to the public.

You can cycle, walk, e-scooter, skateboard and dance anyway you want except when it must be closed for construction. Of course, you can’t light-rail across it which would have saved taxpayers about $1 billion by using an existing span rather than building a brand new one. But you can e-scooter. Hey what’s a bil between friends?

Of course funny in all this is that the bridge is open except it is not officially open. The ruler of all of Kitchissippi, Jeffie “Two-Wheels” Leiper, was concerned that he would be on holiday when this cycling span was opened. But as a member of the city light-rail subcommittee, Leiper felt it was his duty to take holidays when the entire $6.4 billion rail project is in crisis. Can you say noversight? Of course, you can. I knew you could you clever little hamsters. So cute.

Light Rail: Give Us News, Not Beans

So the ex-POW Bridge will be officially opened when Leiper and his pals are back from their summer holidays. You know, in the fall. That way Leiper can get his smiling face in photos and videos and other media which is only appropriate because he built the bridge himself.

The bridge spans the whole Ottawa River (which, if memory serves, Leiper built, too) at Lemieux Island. No word if Leiper will officially open the Ottawa River at the same ceremony. He’s a great man, our Jeffie. You should vote for him.

Politicians. Good grief. What are the chances of having a councillor without a politician?

Ken Gray

This is a release from the City of Ottawa:

We’ve got some exciting news, Ottawa. The Chief William Commanda Bridge is now open for residents and visitors to enjoy.

As part of a larger rehabilitation project connecting Ottawa’s Trillium Pathway to the National Capital Commission’s Voyageurs’ pathway in Gatineau, this multi-use pathway is now open to cycling commuters, recreational users and visitors.

Although there is still ongoing work on the pier and the substructure, our dedicated team of engineers has given their approval to open the multi-use pathway. While using the bridge, please be mindful of the construction areas, and kindly follow all signs to ensure your safety.

As we progress with the complete rehabilitation project, we anticipate some temporary disruptions to bridge access over the next year. The City of Ottawa will communicate these disruptions in advance to ensure the impact to users i known ahead of time.

Let’s Get All The Extra Costs Spent On LRT

The restoration of the Chief William Commanda Bridge marks a significant milestone as a major interprovincial link, facilitating active transportation across our region.

Before setting out on your journey, make sure you have updated information about the pathway and visit the City’s interactive traffic map to confirm the pathway is open for use.

Additionally, keep an eye out for the official bridge opening ceremony, scheduled to take place in the fall.