Pedestrian bridge opens near Carleton after delays, false start

A new multi-use footbridge over the Rideau River is now open,after years of delays and at least one false start.

The footbridge now connects Carleton University in the north with Vincent Massey Park in the south. Itruns parallel to the Trillium LRT Line, which has been under construction since 2020.

It's the only river crossing in the area, with people previously having to use other options onBronson Avenue, Heron Road and Bank Street.

For thosewho came out Saturday to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony,the bridge offers encouragement to use active modes oftransportation.

"I've been waiting for the bridge to open for a while," runner Jared Taylor said.

Taylor saidhe found himself avoiding the area on past runsbecause there wasn't an easy way to get across the river.

"This was always an obstruction. Having to go to Billings Bridge [on Bank Street] added too much to the route to make it an option."

The bridge's opening marks the beginning of the end of a fight for the completion ofdevelopments adjacent to the Trillium LRT line.

River ward Coun. Riley Brockington, whose ward is on the bridge's south side,said he was told itwould open just four months after it was installed in 2022 as part of LRT Stage 2.

"Obviously four months have long gone, and here we are almost two years later," he said.

Rebounding after a false start

The contractor behind the bridge, TransitNEXT, which is also building the Trillium Line expansion, was not required to open the bridge until the LRT opening.

The bridge opened briefly in March when the contractor mistakenlyremoved a barricade. Itwas soon closed again for safety reasons.

Several residents described thatsituation as frustrating, including Bike Ottawa president Florence Lehmann, who was one of the first cyclists to cross during theshortwindow of opportunity.

"I understand they had a little more work to do, but it was actually usable," Lehmann said on Saturday. "They could have opened it sooner."

'Today is a happy day'

Brockington said some finishing touches had to be made before it could open officially, but they were minor and wouldn't have justified delaying the bridge's opening until the LRT line was in service.

City officials still haven't provided an opening date for the Trillium Line, but director of the rail construction programMichael Morgantold CBC Ottawa Saturdayit will be another eight to 10 weeks before commuters can ride the north-south trains.

After years of delays, those involved are just happy to have the bridge open.

"Itook longer than I think it probably should have," said Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard. "But today is a happy day."

City officials say they expect the bridge to be named officially in the coming monthsafter public consultation.