Partners work on ‘balanced schedule’ for 2025 navigation season

LAURIE WEIR

With the closure of the Rideau Canal on Thanksgiving weekend, Parks Canada has revealed a 10.3 per cent decline in boat traffic for the 2024 season.

Haley Lang, communications officer with Parks Canada, told Hometown News that compared to the 2023 navigational season, the number of vessels visiting the National Historic Site was significantly lower.

“Data shows that vessel traffic in May decreased by 3.1 per cent, followed by a 14.8 per cent drop in June,” Lang said. “Both July and August saw a 10.5 per cent decline, while September recorded an 11.7 per cent decrease. The downward trend continued into October, with a 21.2 per cent reduction. This trend is consistent across the canal, although Kingston Mills experienced a more significant reduction. Mooring across the Rideau Canal also saw a decline.”

Lang explained that the declines in traffic, particularly in May, were linked to delays at both the Carillon Canal and the LaSalle Causeway. These delays affected through-traffic from connected waterways to the Rideau Canal.

The Carillon Canal, located at the eastern end of the Rideau Canal, has been undergoing extensive infrastructure work in recent years, with major projects continuing into 2024. Hydro-Québec is leading efforts to rehabilitate the Carillon Dam, including replacing six turbine-generator units. The project, expected to continue until 2027, has impacted the surrounding areas, including the Carillon Canal National Historic Site, where construction work has occasionally disrupted visitor access.

Meanwhile, the LaSalle Causeway in Kingston has been closed since April 2024 due to damage sustained during rehabilitation work on its Bascule Bridge. A key structural element was compromised, leading to the indefinite closure. A modular bridge has been installed as a temporary fix, restoring access for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Marine traffic has been affected by the closure, prompting municipalities along the canal to find solutions.

Smiths Falls Chief Administrative Officer Malcolm Morris spoke about the ongoing efforts following a meeting in early October of municipal leaders along the canal.

“Our efforts are presently focused on ensuring unimpeded access to the Rideau Canal,” he said, adding that a lobby effort is underway, “with an initial focus on direct interaction with federal ministers with authority over marine traffic.”

Lang noted that the reduction in vessel traffic in June was primarily due to the ongoing LaSalle Causeway delays.

“The delay in opening the LaSalle Causeway has limited through-traffic to only navigable routes through Quebec and back, which is not the typical habit of transient boaters through the Rideau Canal system,” Lang said.

Parks Canada is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), which oversees the LaSalle Causeway, to maximize access for larger vessels while the work continues over the next several years. Lang also pointed out that various other factors, including weather conditions, fuel prices, and broader travel trends, may have contributed to the drop in visitation this season.

When asked how Parks Canada plans to address concerns from municipal leaders regarding the impact on boat traffic from the Kingston bridge closure, Lang responded: “Parks Canada understands the importance of marine traffic to the local economy and access to recreational activities. Parks Canada and local municipalities are participating in PSPC consultations with our partners to negotiate a well-balanced schedule for marine access during the 2025 navigation season and beyond. The goal is to minimize disruption while the temporary modular bridge is in place and provide timely access to vessels that exceed clearance requirements of the fixed east part of the LaSalle Causeway Bridge, including a targeted start in early May 2025 for the boating season.”

Lang also confirmed that, for boats meeting clearance requirements, navigation will continue through the east fixed bridge. Boaters can check water levels for Kingston to determine clearance at any given time.

PSPC is the lead organization on the project and will provide the most up-to-date details on the bridge installation and navigation access. Parks Canada will also issue updates as needed.