Reversing Falls ‘Skywalk’ in Saint John passes weight test

The skywalk sitting atop the Reversing Falls Restaurant underwent a weight test today and it appears to have passed with flying colours, marking another landmark day to reopening what was a tourism icon that overlooked the Reversing Rapids.

“It just verifies that is has the integrity it needs to begin to accept people,” said owner Max Kotlowski.

READ MORE: Spring opening predicted for refurbished Reversing Falls Restaurant in Saint John

Getting to this point required a feat of engineering — a 3D engineering design, described as “fun” by the man who designed it.

“To create something that we put on a wooden structure, it’s steel and so trying to figure out how to make it so the whole thing doesn’t topple over the side,” said structural engineer John Johnson. “That’s the challenge.”

Testing that challenge was done with weight in the form of water. Tens of thousands of pounds worth was pumped into three swimming pools and a container.

And the result was as planned.

READ MORE:  Renovations underway at Reversing Falls Restaurant in Saint John

“The verdict is it’s extremely safe,” Johnson said. “We put about 60 per cent of the load we wanted to put on and it’s deflected less than we anticipated.”

Kotlowski said they are looking at possibly opening — what he calls an “extremely soft opening” — within the next four weeks.