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Ottawa opens Chief William Commanda Bridge for the spring

The Chief William Commanda Bridge is now open for the season, following a winter of complaints that the popular bridge over the Ottawa River was closed to the public.

The city of Ottawa announced the bridge opened Monday morning for the spring, but the bridge remaining open will depend on the weather.

“We will continue to monitor the weather and the bridge condition to ensure the bridge surface remains safe for users,” Alain Gonthier, Public Works general manager, said in a statement.

“In the event of a weather event or drop in temperature causing snow and/or ice accumulation on the bridge deck, staff may be required to temporarily close the bridge until conditions allow for safe pedestrian and cycling access.”

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was one of the first people on the newly opened bridge Monday morning, posting a photo on social media.

The city closed the Chief William Commanda Bridge in November for the winter, saying the multi-use pathway was not designed for winter use and that traditional plowing and salting would damage the structure.

The $23.9 million pedestrian-cycling bridge opened in August.

In a memo to council last week, Gonthier says staff will continue to explore the potential for winter use of the bridge. 

“The 2023/2024 winter season saw below average snowfall and higher than normal temperatures across the city,” Gonthier said.

“As a result of these atypical weather patterns, staff were unable to accurately assess the feasibility of alternate winter maintenance activities, as well as the potential use of the bridge for recreational activities (e.g: cross-country skiing).”

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