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. It runs 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 on Bronson Avenue, Heron Road and Bank Street.

For those who came out Saturday to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, the bridge offers encouragement to use active modes of transportation.

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

Taylor said he found himself avoiding the area on past runs because 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."

Fatima Mawani and Jared Taylor hope to use the bridge, which briefly opened in March before being shut down again, for cycling and running. (Isabel Harder/CBC)

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

River ward Coun. Riley Brockington, whose ward is on the bridge's south side, said he was told it would 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 mistakenly removed a barricade. It was soon closed again for safety reasons.

Several residents described that situation as frustrating, including Bike Ottawa president Florence Lehmann, who was one of the first cyclists to cross during the short window 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."

Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard and his son cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the bridge Saturday. While the bridge has opened, it could still be eight to 10 weeks before the adjacent Trillium LRT line launches. (Isabel Harder/CBC)

'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 program Michael Morgan told CBC Ottawa Saturday it 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.

"I took 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 months after public consultation.

Florence Lehmann is president of Bike Ottawa and was one of the cyclists who used the bridge when it opened briefly in March 2024. (Isabel Harder/CBC)