Ottawa cyclists feel effect of record-setting rain
By Hannah Berge
Summer’s rain may have finally ended, but cyclists in the city continue to feel its effects as reconstruction of the flood-damaged Ottawa River Pathway behind Parliament Hill will likely close the popular route until next spring. The National Capital Commission (NCC) is working to improve the path to prevent similar events from occurring in the future.
The record-setting flood of the Ottawa River in the spring forced the pathway to be closed all summer. In mid-August, the NCC began repairs to the severely damaged sections of the route. At its Sept. 12 board meeting, NCC staff announced they are working to have the path opened as quickly as possible as the closure has forced many cyclists to commute on busy downtown roads.
When the river flooded in the spring, huge volumes of water surged onto the pathway and created sinkholes, caused erosion and destroyed light fixtures. It not only affected the Ottawa River Pathway, but also the Voyageurs Pathway on the Gatineau shore behind the Canadian Museum of History.
The NCC estimates that the cost of repairs will be $3.4 billion.
Cyclist Erinn Cunningham bikes to work and used the path below Parliament every day while it was open.
“The closure has meant travelling more in mixed traffic along Wellington Street, which is not as comfortable a riding environment,” said Cunningham. “If this was a road like Queen Elizabeth or Colonel By it wouldn’t have taken them months to start construction.”
The NCC plans to build the pathway to a higher standard to prevent similar events from happening in the future. “We will stabilize the riverbanks, lay sturdy new beds for the paths to lie on, pave and plant to make the ground water-resistant,” said NCC spokesperson Dominique LeBlanc.
Cyclists hope to see improvements once the pathway reopens. Members of the cycling advocacy group Citizens for Safe Cycling (CfSC) expressed the changes they want to see.
“I hope they take the opportunity to make the path wider, and possibly have separated pedestrian and cycling areas so that everybody can be safe and enjoy the path for many decades to come,” said vice-president Heather Shearer.
The Ottawa River Pathway is one of the busiest in the city and often becomes crowded. “There’s always been capacity issues on the pathway so if they have a chance to widen it that would be great,” said Shearer. She frequently used the path while it was open, adding she understands what problems with the route need to be fixed.
“We see that multi-use paths are built in a very low-cost way… in areas that may flood. We wouldn’t see that kind of compromise with a roadway, we would build it to a higher standard where it would be durable and flood proof,” Shearer said.
To cycling advocates, the closure of this path has highlighted how climate change may affect our transportation networks in the future. “I don’t think we have built a lot of infrastructure in cities taking into account climate change,” said Cunningham.
The NCC plans to rebuild the pathway to last for 50 years. “We are working hard ensure the pathways are safe for all to use,” said LeBlanc, “and we will open them as soon as possible.”