The LaSalle Causeway is once again closed to pedestrians after being reopened for less than a month.
Access is being closed in preparation for demolition of the bridge, after Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) shared that demolition of the bridge would be the new course of action after roughly 2 months of attempting repairs of the bridge.
In a news release on Tuesday, PSPC says there is a plan being made to build a modular bridge for vehicles and pedestrians, but still offered no timeline update or further details about that project.
“In preparation for an imminent demolition contract award for the Bascule Bridge, PSPC wishes to advise the public that cyclist and pedestrian access to the LaSalle Causeway will cease as of 9 am tomorrow, June 5. Site security is also being retained to ensure the safety of the public,” the statement reads.
“In collaboration with the City of Kingston, PSPC continues to develop a plan to restore vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian access through a temporary modular bridge solution while preparing to commence preliminary design work to advance the construction of a new replacement bridge.”
PSPC was moving forward with repairs of the bridge before a laser survey on May 10 confirmed that the timeline for repair on the Bascule Bridge was unachievable, and that it’s lifespan was found to be “significantly reduced”.
PSPC did not confirm why the decision to demolish the bridge was only announced officially on May 29 after that survey was conducted.
Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, who have been harsh critics of PSPC through this process, said they believed this was the direction construction would take as early as April 10.
They now expect their stranded ships to be able to pass through by July 1, but are hopeful it might be earlier.
A demolition contract has yet to be announced, so PSPC’s stated expectation of work beginning early this week has also slipped but expected to begin imminently.
Kingston residents who wanted a last walk across the bridge did so before 9 AM this morning, and will be the last to do so on the century old bridge.
