Federal funding now needed to move ahead with Chief William Commanda Bridge project
Posted Jul 7, 2021 06:47:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Prince of Wales Bridge will officially be renamed in honour of Chief William Commanda and the city has applied to the federal government for funding to help rehabilitate the bridge for public use.
An Algonquin elder and spiritual leader, Commanda was Chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation from 1951 to 1970 and dedicated his life to promoting environmental stewardship. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 2008 for his dedication and outstanding service to his people.
The currently inactive railway bridge crosses the Ottawa River and Lemieux Island to connect Ottawa to Gatineau.
The $22.6-million rehabilitation project will bring the bridge back into service as a multi-use pathway, providing an inter-provincial link for commuters and recreational users.
Ottawa city council approved more than $8.9-million in municipal funding on Wednesday, July 4, to the project and has agreed to dedicated one per cent of the estimated construction cost to Indigenous art.
