Since it concerns the Delta; if this is the wrong place to put it, feel free to move! **Thanks for moving, Ben! (I first thought it should go in here, but then thought otherwise )**

It's taken more than 30 years, but Winnipeg's downtown sky-walk is nearly done.

"We're closing the loop," Delta Winnipeg manager Helen Halliday said Sunday after a crane placed a 25-metre steel truss over the Japanese gardens on the west side of the hotel.

The sky-walk that now runs from the Winnipeg Convention Centre over Carlton Street to the hotel will wrap the front of the Delta, cross Hargrave Street and connect to 330 St. Mary Avenue, then cross St. Mary to the roof of the cityplace mall with an entrance to its food court.

By spring, the project will be complete, said Bob Eastwood, principal of Number TEN architectural group. The builders have to work around traffic on the busy downtown street and the hotel's peak times and guests.

"It's not a huge project but it's as complex as it gets," said Eastwood.

Getting the three levels of government and the three property owners involved onside has taken nearly three decades, said Halliday.

Government is pitching in more than $6 million, with the Delta, cityplace and LaSalle Investment Management contributing $2.4 million.

All three of the properties the walkway connects have new owners, including cityplace, which is now owned by Manitoba Public Insurance, said Halliday.

The main impetus for the walkway's completion has been the construction of the MTS Centre, said Halliday.

"The neighbourhood's continued to improve."

The all-weather walkway means her guests in town for events at the MTS Centre will be able to leave their coats in their hotel rooms and head to the concert without braving the elements, said Halliday.

The skywalk will have a new street-level entrance beside the hotel at St. Mary Avenue and Carlton Street with a staircase and elevator enclosed in glass.

The glass walkway in front of the hotel will be lit with coloured lights that can change -- blue and gold if Winnipeg hosts another Grey Cup, said Halliday.

For now, though, people are going to see traffic interruption.

Over the next week, six more sections of sky-walk steel will be put in place.

- http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/new-piece-of-walkway-underway-71383187.html

Awesome! That's really awesome! Have they announced when the *completed* skywalk loop is completed?

Unfortunately not by the looks of it, but here's to hoping it's completed by 2010 Ai-Kon. 

Unfortunately not by the looks of it, but here's to hoping it's completed by 2010 Ai-Kon. 

Hear, hear. Let's hope so!

At this rate I'm only two blocks away from being able to walk from home to work without getting out of my pyjamas!

(Well, I could now.. but I wouldn't be very comfortable)

...that would be epic.

At this rate I'm only two blocks away from being able to walk from home to work without getting out of my pyjamas!

(Well, I could now.. but I wouldn't be very comfortable)

Haha that would be amazing!

(And true, it'd be kinda cold in winter)

I was there when they were doing it.

mess year working in the mall.

any update on this

Nothing official, if that's what you mean.

They have the stairwell started and the skywalk stretches in front of the Delta and across the street to the underground. Looking good so far.

The outside of it is looking pretty good (for a bare frame, that is). Keep your fingers crossed for it to be done before Ai-Kon...

I was in downtown just a little while ago and saw the new walkway.  Looks like is just about finished.  The outside of it looks finished and they appear to be putting the finishing touches on the inside.  I think it will be ready by Ai-Kon.

Wow, that's really exciting! Here's to protection from the Winnipeg weather! Hahaha.

is it done

Was that a question? Assuming it was, no it is not done yet.