NCC: entire Rideau Canal Skateway reopens

Crews with the National Capital Commission work on the Rideau Canal Skateway on Friday. (Andrew Adlington/CTV News Ottawa)

The National Capital Commission is inviting skaters back onto the ice of the Rideau Canal Skateway.

According to the NCC, the full 7.8 kilometre skateway reopened at 4 p.m. on Friday.

“After a week of mild and rainy weather, our team took advantage of the return of cold temperatures to sweep, flood and smooth the ice, which is now ready to welcome skaters and walkers,” the NCC wrote in a news release.

Rental services, change rooms and food and beverage concessions will also be open, the NCC says.

The world’s largest skateway had been closed since Jan. 8, when mild temperatures and rain gripped the capital. Since Jan. 8, Ottawa has received 36 cm of snow and experienced seven days of above seasonal temperatures.

A section of the Rideau Canal Skateway opened for the season on Dec. 31, and the full 7.8 km of the skateway opened on Jan. 5.

The NCC said there were over 170,000 visits to the Rideau Canal Skateway in its first week of operation.