If you plan on crossing the St-Lawrence River this spring or summer you had better pack a lot of patience.
Major repair work on the three federally operated bridges will soon begin and could cause serious traffic delays.
More than $200 million is budgeted for the Champlain, Jacques-Cartier and Mercier Bridges; most of it earmarked for the latter.
The Champlain Bridge is 55 years old and has outlived its lifespan.
A new one is currently under construction and is slated to replace the existing bridge by the end of next year. But if a current lawsuit with the contractor and the federal government delays the finish date, the existing bridge will have to remain open.
“Should there be an important delay then we have no choice but to maintain the bridge open. We will continue to monitor its behaviour. If we have to intervene we will get the funding required,” said Glen Carlin, CEO of the Jacques-Cartier-Champlain-Bridges Corporation.
A contract has been awarded to demolish the existing Champlain Bridge, which is expected to cost $400 million and take four years to complete. No timetable has been finalized.
This year, $124 million will be spent to repair the Champlain Bridge.
It will be completely closed to traffic in the southbound direction on May 20 and 21. The northbound lanes will be closed on May 27 and 28.
To extend the lifespan of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge by another 50 years, $56 million will be spent, and $28 million will be spent on the Mercier Bridge to repair its piers.
“We’re doing it a little bit everywhere and it’s important to invest in our structures,” Carlin said.
The new Champlain Bridge is slated to open in December 2018.
And an update: 95 per cent of the lights on Jacques-Cartier Bridge to celebrate Montreal’s 375th anniversary are in place.
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