Mercier Bridge to re-open two weeks ahead of schedule

MONTREAL – The Mercier Bridge is set to re-open about two weeks ahead of schedule.

As of 8 a.m., Sunday, August 2, all lanes will be re-opened.

Over the last few weeks, close to 100 workers have been onsite 20 hours per day, seven days a week to install dozens of new concrete decks on one section of the bridge “to replace the deck section located above the St. Lawrence Seaway, replace the expansion joints, and carry out paving and painting work,” wrote the federal bridge corporation (JCCBI) in a press release.

It’s a $30 million project that started last month and was originally slated to finish August 17.

READ MORE: Mercier Bridge construction snarling traffic

The job is part of $200 million bridge reinforcement effort to extend its life span.

READ MORE: 3 things you need to know about Mercier Bridge lane closures

But the work isn’t quite finished.

From Friday, 11 p.m. to Monday, 5 a.m. during the weekends of Aug. 8-9 and Aug. 15-16, only one lane in each direction will be open for construction.

The Montreal-bound access ramp in La Prairie will be completely closed.

The bearing devices under the federal section of the bridge will also be replaced, resulting in two complete overnight closures; the dates for that work have yet to be announced.

The project to fix the Mercier Bridge began in 2008 and is scheduled to finished next year.