Chief William Commanda Bridge (former Prince of Wales Bridge)

[613Steve]

If the bridge is closed for 4 months of the year then it's painfully obvious that it would be better served as a rail bridge connecting the O-Train to Gatineau.

I did part of my final research project for my master's in urban planning on this connection and the accessibility benefits are projected to be comparable to the entire Line 2 south project. Full report can be found here: https://www.stephenhickson.ca/_files/ugd/39936c_62e0311e38364c6996e1d593bfd0b650.pdf

[acottawa]

I think it is too far west of downtown Gatineau to be of broad use.

[zzptichka]

Lawyers are the worst.

[Har13]

Originally Posted by 613Steve

If the bridge is closed for 4 months of the year then it's painfully obvious that it would be better served as a rail bridge connecting the O-Train to Gatineau.

I did part of my final research project for my master's in urban planning on this connection and the accessibility benefits are projected to be comparable to the entire Line 2 south project. Full report can be found here: https://www.stephenhickson.ca/_files/ugd/39936c_62e0311e38364c6996e1d593bfd0b650.pdf

Well done man. You make more sense the the majority of the city planners.

[rocketphish]

Chief William Commanda Bridge closed for winter, City of Ottawa says
The City of Ottawa says the multi-use pathway over the Ottawa River is not designed for pedestrians or cyclists to use it in the winter.

Marlo Glass, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 21, 2023 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 2 minute read

An active transportation link between Ottawa and Gatineau has been closed for the winter.

A memo from City of Ottawa staff on Tuesday said the Chief William Commanda Bridge, a multi-use pathway that opened this past summer, was not designed for winter pedestrian or cycling use.

“Due to the bridge’s steel structure and timber plank surface, the City is unable to safely undertake any plowing, salting or grit operations,” the memo read. “With the dropping temperatures and an early winter weather event posing risks of ice accumulation on the bridge deck, the City is closing the structure today and asking all residents to respect posted signage on site to please stay off the bridge for their safety.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/chief-william-commanda-bridge-closed-for-winter-city-of-ottawa-says

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think it is too far west of downtown Gatineau to be of broad use.

Could use the old railway along the river to reach Zibi and Terraces de la Chaudière.

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Chief William Commanda Bridge closed for winter, City of Ottawa says
The City of Ottawa says the multi-use pathway over the Ottawa River is not designed for pedestrians or cyclists to use it in the winter.

Marlo Glass, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 21, 2023 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 2 minute read

An active transportation link between Ottawa and Gatineau has been closed for the winter.

A memo from City of Ottawa staff on Tuesday said the Chief William Commanda Bridge, a multi-use pathway that opened this past summer, was not designed for winter pedestrian or cycling use.

“Due to the bridge’s steel structure and timber plank surface, the City is unable to safely undertake any plowing, salting or grit operations,” the memo read. “With the dropping temperatures and an early winter weather event posing risks of ice accumulation on the bridge deck, the City is closing the structure today and asking all residents to respect posted signage on site to please stay off the bridge for their safety.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/chief-william-commanda-bridge-closed-for-winter-city-of-ottawa-says

What about the Alexandra Bridge? Feds have been plowing the boardwalk on a steel bridge for 120 years.

[Kitchissippi]

Sheesh, people are used to walking on packed snow. The paths to access the CWC bridge are not plowed anyway, the Ottawa side is groomed as part of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail. If the city threw money their way I know they'd be happy to groom the bridge for skiing.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Sheesh, people are used to walking on packed snow. The paths to access the CWC bridge are not plowed anyway, the Ottawa side is groomed as part of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail. If the city threw money their way I know they'd be happy to groom the bridge for skiing.

Finland, it's nearly all packed snow, and it seems to work fine for cyclists and pedestrians alike. I don't know why were incapable of learning simple lessons from other countries.

• Video Link

[zzptichka]

https://twitter.com/DvdHam/status/1727160286459670727

That's a good point. The bridge project was funded through the federal "Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program" as "Public Transit Infrastructure" and it's somewhat unlikely they would approve something that only seasonal, i.e. recreational.

[613Steve]

Originally Posted by Har13

Well done man. You make more sense the the majority of the city planners.

That’s very kind. I appreciate that. I desperately hope for a better integrated transit system for Ottawa-Gatineau in the future. I think metro level planning is the only way we can meet our mode share goals.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I think it is too far west of downtown Gatineau to be of broad use.

But it's not too far west of downtown to be of use at all.

[lrt's friend]

Oulu, Finland has a 30 or 40 year head start on cycling infrastructure compared to Canadian cities. They are to be commended that they were so forward thinking. Ottawa was totally dependent on the NCC to build cycling infrastructure back in the 1970s. It was otherwise not even on City of Ottawa radar in those days. Then, cycling was just recreational for the vast majority. I remember talking about cycle commuting years ago with friends and it was not if, but when someone would be hit by car. I remember cycle commuting once myself and that was enough, more because there was no facility at my work to clean up.

[rocketphish]

Ottawa to 'explore' winter recreation options for closed Chief William Commanda Bridge
The city says the Chief William Commanda Bridge, which opened in August, was not designed for regular winter maintenance practices.

Marlo Glass, Ottawa Citizen
Published Nov 24, 2023 • Last updated 8 minutes ago • 3 minute read

<more>

“As this bridge has an old heritage steel structure that is not protected with anti-corrosion coatings that are applied to winter-maintained bridges, any salt used would accelerate corrosion and severely impact the lifecycle of the bridge,” said Alain Gonthier, general manager of the city’s public works department.

But the city says it will “explore the feasibility for winter recreational purposes, including cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing.”

Dave Adams, a snow groomer and manager of the nearby Kichi Sibi Winter Trail, says the bridge could be “manicured” to suit recreation uses once Ottawa receives a good dump of snow.

But, he added, it’s the city’s call to make.

“I’m hoping. We’re hoping,” Adams said in an interview. “All we can do is be on standby and wait for the call.”

<more>

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-to...for-closed-chief-william-commanda-bridge

[zzptichka]

[OTownandDown]

Title of the thread needs to change

[AuxTown]

Ottawa needs to start having a little more faith in its citizens to make appropriate decisions rather than try to micro-manage every bridge, path, staircase in town! There is a set of stairs near me that are heavily-used and they block them off starting the beginning of November. As a result, a perfectly good, dry, safe set of stairs is blocked off with "DANGER" signs for a significant amount of time before winter and again at the end of the season.

I remember being amazed in St. John's when hiking around signal hill that there are very few barriers or fences along their walking paths. There were sheer 100 foot cliffs but somehow people weren't falling off every two minutes....

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

Ottawa needs to start having a little more faith in its citizens to make appropriate decisions rather than try to micro-manage every bridge, path, staircase in town! There is a set of stairs near me that are heavily-used and they block them off starting the beginning of November. As a result, a perfectly good, dry, safe set of stairs is blocked off with "DANGER" signs for a significant amount of time before winter and again at the end of the season.

I remember being amazed in St. John's when hiking around signal hill that there are very few barriers or fences along their walking paths. There were sheer 100 foot cliffs but somehow people weren't falling off every two minutes....

On the one hand, I agree. On the other hand, two (?) people died jumping off that bridge. Personal responsibility is no longer a thing, it seems.

Fascinating how drivers are trusted. Non of the road infra closes in winter.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

On the one hand, I agree. On the other hand, two (?) people died jumping off that bridge. Personal responsibility is no longer a thing, it seems.

And yet, with tens of thousands of crossings since the late July opening, there have been zero jumpers.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

And yet, with tens of thousands of crossings since the late July opening, there have been zero jumpers.

Sure they have - they just haven't killed themselves.

[harls]

I remember the good old days of 2009 and walking across that bridge with no signs and barriers.