Ottawa Ontario - Residents are one step closer to being able to walk, cycle, and perhaps even cross-country ski across the Ottawa River at Bayview Station after Ottawa city council voted to help pay to rehabilitate the bridge, as well as rename it.
 
City councillors voted to immediately rename the interprovincial crossing, formerly known as the Prince of Wales Bridge, to the Chief William Commanda Bridge, and commit $14 million on fixing the bridge.
 
Coun. Carol Anne Meehan, who expressed concerns over the price tag of the project, was the only councillor to dissent on Mayor Jim Watson's motion to fund and rename the former Prince of Wales Bridge.
 
"This is simply going to be a huge tourism draw in Ottawa," said Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, who represents the ward that includes the bridge, and who seconded the mayor's motion.
 
"It will be a four-season gem, recreationally in the city. and it's really going to be a really key part of our transportation network for active transportation, bringing people safely back and forth to Gatineau."
 
Project to Cost $22.6 Million
 
The city bought the rail bridge from Canadian Pacific Railway in 2005 to be used as a transit link between Ottawa and Gatineau sometime in the future.
 
But that might be a long way off, in part because Gatineau is planning for its future tram to cross the river using the nearby Portage Bridge.
 
Turning the 1.3 kilometre bridge into a multi-use pathway for foot traffic will cost a total of $22.5 million, $12.1 million for the path itself, including beefed-up railings, LED lighting, and a few benches, and $10.4 million to restore the piers holding up the bridge.
 
Sneaking onto the bridge has always held allure for some residents.
 
Tragically, two people have died in as many as years after swimming off the bridge.
 
It's not yet clear if, or how, the retrofit will discourage people from jumping into the river below.
 
Of the money committed to fixing the bridge, $5 million will be set aside for the pier work, which was already budgeted for.
 
On Wednesday council approved an additional $9 million to the plan, which came from development charge and transit reserve funds.
 
In the coming days, the federal government is expected to announce it is funding the remaining $8.6 million.
 
Local MP and Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, who recently announced she's not running for re-election, made reopening the bridge a campaign promise in 2019.
 
The project should go out to tender this summer, at which point city officials should have a better idea of when it might be completed.
 
Joanne Chianello.