Should the newly-refurbished William Commanda Bridge be closed for the Winter season? This pathway between Ottawa and Gatineau just opened this Summer, only for the colder temperatures and forecasts to shut it down within 3 months. According to the City of Ottawa, the nearly $24 million bridge wasn’t designed for pedestrian or cycling usage in Ottawa winters. That’s because the steel structure and timber plank surface cannot be salted or plowed. Florence Lehmann, the Secretary of Bike Ottawa, vents her frustrations on Ottawa Now.