Popular Burlington canal piers to be gated, closed even as cities try to negotiate public access

Transport Canada will use gates to close the popular Burlington shipping canal piers to pedestrians in December even as neighbouring cities negotiate to preserve public access.

The federal agency angered local residents last year by threatening to ban the public from the pair of 321-metre-long piers that usher ships into Hamilton Harbour and serve as popular walking paths into the lake. Public pressure and advocacy from former MP Bob Bratina spurred a closure pause" last year to allow talks with Burlington and Hamilton.

But residents watched nervously this month as three new swing gates were installed to block entrance to the piers from the waterfront trail. Transport Canada confirmed it will begin restricting access" ahead of winter conditions, but added future recreational use is still up for negotiation.

Our biggest fear is that if they don't reach an agreement, they will close them completely," said Matt Francis, an east-end resident who organized a Save Our Pier! group last year. Hopefully we've demonstrated to (Transport Canada) that we won't stand for that."

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Friday cities on both sides of the canal would consider taking responsibility for pier maintenance and controlling access in dangerous weather - if the federal government first pays to make the crumbling concrete safe.

That could cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands of dollars to the low millions.

We certainly expect that the federal government will make those investments," said Eisenberger. I imagine it's not a small investment, but certainly not in the tens of millions of dollars, either."

New Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Liberal MP Chad Collins said he will absolutely" lobby for federally funded repairs to the piers. I think at this point both (levels of government) want the same thing," he said. We want to maintain public use and we want those users to be safe."

A recent safety review of the aging infrastructure done on behalf of both cities identified liability problems like cracks, sagging and heaved concrete, poor lighting and fall hazards related to the unfenced pier edge.

If those problems are fixed, Eisenberger said the city is willing to discuss taking on maintenance like sweeping and garbage cleanup, adding amenities like benches and handling temporary closures during storms or icy conditions.

Transport Canada spokesperson Sau Sau Liu said via email the agency is exploring a possible licensing agreement" with city officials to allow recreational access to the piers. But for now, the agency has told local officials it intends to close and lock the new pier gates by Dec. 3 (but at least one of the gates is already closed).

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said she's optimistic a deal with the federal agency can be reached - but she's not thrilled" to hear the gates will be locked. We have asked for the piers to remain open unless there are dangerous conditions," she said. I still hope that's where we'll end up."

Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com