Chief William Commanda Bridge (former Prince of Wales Bridge)

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I see the barriers are locked back into place, not that they are stopping anyone determined enough.

There is still effectively no snow accumulation on the bridge deck.

The wind continued to erode what little snow there was on the deck over the weekend. The north spans were getting bare. The south span holds its snow a little better, maybe because it's also drifting off the ice, where the north side is still open water.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The wind continued to erode what little snow there was on the deck over the weekend. The north spans were getting bare. The south span holds its snow a little better, maybe because it's also drifting off the ice, where the north side is still open water.

You better watch out. Sweeping snow can lead to black ice.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

You better watch out. Sweeping snow can lead to black ice.

I ain't gonna be sweepin' no river.

[Uhuniau]

From the Sunizen:

Skiers frustrated by winter closing of Chief William Commanda Bridge
Unfortunately for snow sports fans, the bridge remains a no-go zone in winter, cordoned off by steel gates and construction fencing.

Blair Crawford
Published Jan 22, 2024 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 3 minute read

Marc Lafortune looks across the Chief William Commanda Bridge to Ottawa and sees a world of possibility.

“With the opening of that bridge, we were like just, ‘Wow!’ Lafortune said. “It’s created a new dynamic between Ottawa and Gatineau.”

But unfortunately for snow sports fans like Lafortune, the bridge remains a no-go zone in winter, cordoned off by steel gates and construction fencing.

Lafortune is one of the people behind a drive for a new groomed ski trail on the NCC’s Voyageur multi-use pathway in Gatineau between the Champlain Bridge and the Chief William Commanda Bridge. If the William Commanda were open, Lafortune’s 3.5-km trail could connect across the river to Ottawa’s Kichi Sibi Winter Trail and beyond.

“That would be fantastic,” he said. “Then there’s the possibility of going even further on this side. You have easy access to Gatineau Park on one side and you can go as far west as you want on the other side, all the way to Aylmer. It would be a wonderful project.”

https://ottawasun.com/news/local-new...f-5d6c028890a6

[Uhuniau]

Further from the article:

Meanwhile, [the city is] asking people to stay off the bridge, a request that seems to be ignored by people who routinely remove the fencing blocking access to the bridge.

This is such a boneheaded approach. We aren't going to be able to guage how the bridge "performs" in winter without the real-world experience of humans and their impact on the snowpack.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Last night I was walking by the Bridge and there was a city of Ottawa truck at the south approach to the bridge. A couple of workers were tying up the fence as some people had broken through. There was also a couple of folks coming south on the bridge had to go back to the Quebec side.

I asked if they knew when the bridge would open? One wag said with a grin, "Maybe May?"
He then said, "Call the mayor and maybe he'll listen to you!"

It is to weep.

[J.OT13]

It's basically been Spring for most of the "Winter". Close it for snow storms if you must, but keep it open otherwise.

[Uhuniau]

The barriers have been busted on one or both ends about five times since the fall "closure". It didn't matter much when they were intact, because anyone who was able and willing to clamber over, just clambered. There was no snow accumulation worth trying to make ski-able this winter, nor, I'd suspect, would there be, because of the wind and the bridgeness. There was also no snow to lower the effective railing height.

The trail on the Quebec side is used even in winter, and is almost already clear (maybe 4/5ths even before yesterday's warm spell.

The place was HOPPING yesterday.

Just open the bridge.

[DTcrawler]

Seriously, of all the things the city could put its effort toward which would actually be worthwhile, they decide it’s better to go repeatedly repair a fence that’s not protecting anyone from any sort of imaginary danger.

Go patch some potholes instead, you buffoons.

[lrt's friend]

The challenge here is that we are seeing a winter not like any other. As a life long Ottawa resident, I have never seen anything like this before, not even close. It could change any day, and there could be a blizzard or freezing rain. This is possible for another 6 weeks. We cannot prepare for the exceptional that could change overnight. Just last year, we had a major freezing rain storm in the first week of April that knocked out power and broke trees.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The challenge here is that we are seeing a winter not like any other. As a life long Ottawa resident, I have never seen anything like this before, not even close. It could change any day, and there could be a blizzard or freezing rain. This is possible for another 6 weeks. We cannot prepare for the exceptional that could change overnight. Just last year, we had a major freezing rain storm in the first week of April that knocked out power and broke trees.

Even in the aftermath of the larger snow dumps we had this winter, it just doesn't accumulate on the spans. It blows off, and what doesn't, quickly melts or sublimates being well aerated below and above. And that was in a dark, dreary January and February, with almost no direct sun for six weeks.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The challenge here is that we are seeing a winter not like any other. As a life long Ottawa resident, I have never seen anything like this before, not even close. It could change any day, and there could be a blizzard or freezing rain. This is possible for another 6 weeks. We cannot prepare for the exceptional that could change overnight. Just last year, we had a major freezing rain storm in the first week of April that knocked out power and broke trees.

And oh yeah – we're starting to say this every year, now, it seems, but this "winter" was bonkers. Real winter-winter is getting scarce.

What, could, be, happening, I wonder?

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

And oh yeah – we're starting to say this every year, now, it seems, but this "winter" was bonkers. Real winter-winter is getting scarce.

What, could, be, happening, I wonder?

Hmm, maybe the effects of certain cities that close pedestrian/active infrastructure for the winter while making sure precious GHG emitting vehicles face no such hindrace, multiplied on a global scale

[eltodesukane]

Just like this in Strathcona Park

[Uhuniau]

The fun part is that someone (or someones) with bolt cutters has been pushing the envelope on the Commanda Bridge ever since the first, unofficial "opening" last summer.

Not all superheroes wear capes.

[BlueJay]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

And oh yeah – we're starting to say this every year, now, it seems, but this "winter" was bonkers. Real winter-winter is getting scarce.

What, could, be, happening, I wonder?

We will be fine. It's all a cycle. We have had these warm winter temperatures in Ottawa 40 and 60 years ago. Other parts of Canada had crazy record setting cold winter temperatures and record snowfalls. It will come back around to us. I am predicting 30 days of skating on the canal next year. I am open to bets if you're interested.

[Uhuniau]

As of March 12th, you still have to hop fences to cross on the bridge (so I've heard), even though the trails on both sides are clear and unflooded.

[Har13]

Originally Posted by BlueJay

We will be fine. It's all a cycle. We have had these warm winter temperatures in Ottawa 40 and 60 years ago. Other parts of Canada had crazy record setting cold winter temperatures and record snowfalls. It will come back around to us. I am predicting 30 days of skating on the canal next year. I am open to bets if you're interested.

I don’t necessarily disagree with you. I think it’s a little naive to judge global warming by warm winters in ottawa.

But one thing I am certain with, the amount of co2 we are pumping into the oxygen has never been seen before, and when u look at the science, there is no doubt that all GHG emissions are heating up the earth.

[Ottawacurious]

From Jeff Liepers latest newsletter:
I've been in touch with the City Manager through the course of the weekend about re-opening the William Commanda bridge. It is very frustrating to see that continued closure since any snow on it is long gone. Again, the City is looking for temperatures to be consistently above freezing before they'll re-open it, concerned about how slippery it is when frozen. Both Councillor Troster and I will persist in pressing for an expeditious re-opening, and to take advantage of the time we have to find a four-season solution to keeping it open.

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

From Jeff Liepers latest newsletter:
I've been in touch with the City Manager through the course of the weekend about re-opening the William Commanda bridge. It is very frustrating to see that continued closure since any snow on it is long gone. Again, the City is looking for temperatures to be consistently above freezing before they'll re-open it, concerned about how slippery it is when frozen. Both Councillor Troster and I will persist in pressing for an expeditious re-opening, and to take advantage of the time we have to find a four-season solution to keeping it open.

Slippery when frozen. Holy hell you cannot make this shit up. What a farce.

At this point it really does feel like staff are simply trying to troll the "yuppie" downtowners by keeping the bridge closed. I've never seen city staff put so much effort into their jobs aside from repeatedly repairing a fence so people can't use a bridge over a made up danger.