Article content

People will have better access to the ruins of an old pulp mill near the Mill Street Brew Pub thanks to $4.4 million approved Thursday by the National Capital Commission’s board of directors.

The ruins, which are near the Portage Bridge, are a reminder of Ottawa’s industrial history along the Ottawa River. The project will create public spaces on the Bronson Dam and on Amelia Island. The NCC will install interpretation elements that tell people about pulp paper, lumber and electrical power generation in the city.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or $4.4M project will provide access to pulp mill ruins near Mill Street Brew Pub Back to video

The NCC considers it a good opportunity for people to discover more of the shoreline.

“Refurbishment of the ruins will arrest and reverse the loss of artifacts and understanding of the pulp, lumber and electrical generating industries that dominated the area,” the agency says in a report to the board.

A new pedestrian and cycling tunnel will be constructed under the Portage Bridge, connecting Richmond Landing on the east side of the bridge and the Ottawa River pathways. The tunnel is scheduled to be open by March 2019.

Within the budget, the NCC will also refurbish the vintage lighting systems around the intersection of Wellington Street and the Portage Bridge.

The NCC plans to refurbish and stabilize the ruins in 2019-2020. The Mill Street pub has expressed interest in collaborating on a commercial activity in a portion of the ruins. The partnership could help the NCC provide elevator access and washrooms at the site.

jwilling@postmedia.com

twitter.com/JonathanWilling