WATCH ABOVE: Transport officials are in a race against time to fix a large crack that was discovered on the Champlain bridge earlier this month. The deterioration of the bridge is causing a great deal of concern for officials. As Rachel Lau reports, experts are saying it’s too soon to start worrying.
MONTREAL – The deterioration of the bridge is causing a great deal of concern for those going to and from the South Shore who woke up this morning to discover yet another southbound lane has been closed on the Champlain Bridge.
The lane was shut down because a crack in one of the bridge’s concrete beams is getting worse – and officials want to limit the stress on that beam.
“We will take whatever measures are required,” said Glen Carlin, Director General of Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated.
“If we have any doubt about the security or the safety of the bridge, if we have to close three lanes we will close three lanes. If we have to close the bridge we will close the bridge.”
The 2 millimeter fissure was first discovered on November 12th during a routine inspection.
“Right now there’s definitely no sign of other cracks,” said Project Manager Catherine Tremblay.
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“There are none of significance. Obviously there are little cracks everywhere but not to create a concern.”
Transport officials have called for a two-part repair.
The first is a for temporary ‘super-beam’ to be installed for support.
“The super beam is an excellent idea to replace to cracked one, to take the load from the cracked one,” said Adel Hanna, a Civil Engineering professor at Concordia University.
The project isn’t slated to start until mid-December, which could indicate the possibility of more lane closures in the coming weeks.
“We will have to close four lanes on the Champlain Bridge for a two day period in order to secure the beam,” said Carlin.
“We’ll have one lane in each direction.”
Traffic is expected to overwhelm all roads leading to the bridge until the second part of the project starts next Spring when a permanent trellis will replace the temporary super-beam.
To some commuters, it’s the same old story.
“It’s going to be hell,” said one driver.
“If one bridge goes out then pretty much all of the others are going to be just over populated.”
“It’s disappointing to me to see this traffic all the time,” said one man who said he only comes downtown now to pick up his daughter.
“It discourages me from wanting to come on the island. I used to come here a lot more.”
One thing officials stress is that the bridge is safe, and Hanna agrees commuters shouldn’t panic.
“Allowing the bridge to be used today, it shows that there is no really serious concern about the serviceability of the bridge but it’s good to take care of the problem,” he said.
Plans to build a replacement for the decaying Champlain Bridge are still in early stages.
The federal government announced it’s working as fast as it can.
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