Seven-kilometre stretch runs from Somerset Street to Carleton University
Ever wanted to swap your commute to class or work on the roads or rails for a trip down the Rideau Canal instead? Lace-up those skates because now is your chance.
Most of the Rideau Canal Skateway opened on Wednesday morning, with seven kilometres of ice now stretching from Hartwell Locks at Carleton University to Somerset Street on the edge of the University of Ottawa campus.
Get reaaaaaaaady #Ottawa! ⛸ Our crew has been flooding with tonnes of H2O liters, and the green flag is going up on 7.0 km from Somerset to the Library Stairs tomorrow, Jan 22, at 8 am. 🙌 Lace ‘em up! #ottnews #ottawa pic.twitter.com/QFgAIiB7x1
— RideauCanalSkateway (@NCC_Skateway) January 21, 2020
The National Capital Commission (NCC) said on Wednesday morning that conditions on the ice range from fair to good. The Somerset east and west access stairs are currently closed and the nearest access point is at Waverly Street a few blocks away, the NCC reported.
Update: The Somerset east and west access stairs are currently closed. The first access point is at Waverley on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side.
— RideauCanalSkateway (@NCC_Skateway) January 22, 2020
Conditions range from fair to good on the #RideauCanal Skateway this morning!👌 https://t.co/j0nmcKJZzx
A 2.3-kilometre section of the skateway running from Bank Street to the Pretoria Bridge first opened for the season on Saturday morning.
The skateway’s 50th season launched almost three weeks later than its 49th season, which ran from Dec. 30 to March 10 with 59 skating days.
