Pedestrian bridge opens near Carleton after delays and 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 to Vincent Massey Park in the south. It runs parallel to the Trillium LRT line, under construction since 2020.

This is 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 to the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, the bridge encourages the use of active modes of transportation.

“I’ve been waiting for the bridge to open for a while,” said runner Jared Taylor.

Taylor said he found himself avoiding the area in previous races because there was no easy way to cross the river.

“It's always been a hurdle. Having to get to the Billings Bridge [on Bank Street] I added too much to the itinerary to make it an option.

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

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

Riverfront Neighborhood Council. Riley Brockington, whose neighborhood is on the south side of the bridge, said she was told it would open just four months after it was installed in 2022 as part of Stage 2 of the LRT.

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

Bouncing back 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 before the LRT opened.

The bridge opened briefly in March when the contractor mistakenly removed a barricade. It was soon closed again for security reasons.

Several residents described the situation as frustrating, including Velo 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 Saturday. “They could have opened it sooner.”

Capital District Council. Shawn Menard and his son cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the bridge Saturday. Although the bridge is open, it could still be eight to ten weeks before the adjacent Trillium LRT line launches. (Isabel Harder/CBC)

“Today is a happy day”

Brockington said some final touches needed to be made before it could officially open, but they were minor and would not 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 rail construction program manager Michael Morgan told CBC Ottawa on Saturday that it will be another eight to 10 weeks before commuters can take north-south trains.

After years of delay, those involved are just happy the bridge is open.

“It took me 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 officially named in the coming months, after public consultation.

Florence Lehmann is president of Velo Ottawa and was among the cyclists who used the bridge during its brief opening in March 2024. (Isabel Harder/CBC)