Scott Gillingham says he is now in favour of keeping the concourse below Portage and Main open. Gillingham made the announcement following an election forum Wednesday night. “We’re going to hear from our staff in the new year with a report as to what options may be available,” Gillingham told reporters. “If we can, I would like to see it stay open if there’s a way to keep it open, but again, we don’t know what the report’s going to say from our staff.” In 2024, Gillingham voted on closing the underground concourse after a city report found repairs to the surface and membrane would cost $73 million. The report led to the intersection above reopening to pedestrians for the first time since 1979, which Gillingham has touted as one of his accomplishments. During the work to reopen Portage and Main, Gillingham said some repairs were done to the membrane, which could allow the concourse below to stay open. He added city staff are consulting with property owners on all four corners about contributing to the reopening plans. “Nothing is off the table,” he said. The city report is expected in January.
