Rideau Canal Skateway extends on Wednesday to almost full length

Two more sections of the Rideau Canal Skateway will open on Wednesday morning, bringing the total length of open ice to 7.4 kilometres.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) said the newly-opened sections include the stretch between the Laurier Ave. Bridge and Waverley Street, along with the the portion between Bank Streetand Bronson Avenue.

The NCC'sice safety committee has deemed the new sections safefor skating.

Once the new sections open, the only unopened stretch will be from the Laurier AvenueBridge to Rideau Street

Fluctuating winter weather over the past few weeks in Ottawahas made it difficult for the ice on all sections of the canal to grow to 30 centimetres thick, the minimum that the National Capital Commissionrequires for skating.

The Skateway season began on Jan. 18 with 2.3 kilometres of canal opening between the Pretoria Bridge and Bank Street.

In total, there have been 21 skating days this year.