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A meeting between city officials and Transport Canada over concerns about the Prince of Wales Bridge sped up plans to block off entry points on the historic Ottawa River crossing, according to emails and documents recently released to the Citizen.

A contractor installed chain-link fences at the bridge access points last September after Transport Canada summoned city staff to the federal headquarters in at the end of 2015 to discuss security on the out-of-service rail bridge.

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According to internal city emails released through access to information, Transport Canada contacted the city on Nov. 23, 2015, with concerns about security on the bridge after being tipped off by reports in the media.

While the emails don’t indicate what issue triggered Transport Canada’s interest, Ottawa police in August that year reported robberies on and around the bridge.

City officials met with the agency on Dec. 2, 2015, to explain that it increased patrols and had plans to permanently barricade the bridge.