Local News

Waterfront Trail Has Re-Opened

Hamiltonians can once again use the Waterfront Trail between Bayfront Park and Princess Point again after three and a half months of closure.

By Ryan McGreal
Published August 21, 2017

The City of Hamilton announced this morning that the Waterfront Trail between Bayfront Park and Princess Point has been re-opened today after flooding and significant damage this past spring. This follows a news release from last week announcing that the Trail would re-open some time this week.

Damaged sections of the trail have been blocked off
Damaged sections of the trail have been blocked off

The Trail is still partially submerged under Cootes Paradise near Princess Point
The Trail is still partially submerged under Cootes Paradise near Princess Point

The Trail has been closed and barricaded since April 30, 2017. It was flooded during the extraordinary rain events of April and early May, during which dozens of millimetres of rain fell during multiple rainfalls and swamped a water system that was already high.

Waterfront Trail flooded, photo taken on June 25, 2017 (Image Credit: Brad Young)
Waterfront Trail flooded, photo taken on June 25, 2017 (Image Credit: Brad Young)

Massive flooding along the St. Lawrence River in early May prompted the International Lake Ontario St. Lawrence River Board of Control to reduce the Lake Ontario outflow into the St. Lawrence through Moses-Saunders Power Dam in Cornwall.

That resulted in flooded shorelines and eroded beaches and waterfront trails all around Lake Ontario - including in Hamilton.

Waterfront Trail closed at Bayfront Park in May, 2017 (RTH file photo)
Waterfront Trail closed at Bayfront Park in May, 2017 (RTH file photo)

High water level at Pier 4 Park in May, 2017 (RTH file photo)
High water level at Pier 4 Park in May, 2017 (RTH file photo)

As the water level was gradually lowered over the summer, City of Hamilton workers were finally able to access and inspect the Waterfront Trail. The City has installed fencing along half a kilometre of the three kilometre trail along the edge of the shoreline where the flooding has caused erosion.

As a result, the trail is narrowed in places and will still require long-term repairs that have yet to be determined. Meanwhile, the trail is being reopened today for public access again after three and a half months of closure.

Map: Waterfront Trail between Princess Point and Bayfront Park (Image Credit: Google Maps)
Map: Waterfront Trail between Princess Point and Bayfront Park (Image Credit: Google Maps)

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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