MONTREAL — It’s been one year since construction began on the new Champlain Bridge.
Five hundred workers a day are onsite to build the future span, which is estimated to be usable for 125 years.
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Nevertheless, many commuters said they hope the new structure will be able to handle a possible surge in traffic.
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In response, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre insisted he isn’t worried about future congestion problems if the volume increases.
“Didn’t you get the memo?” Coderre rhetorically asked during a Friday afternoon press conference.
WATCH BELOW: Construction on the Champlain Bridge
He then continued to explain the bridge will have a light rail transit system for mass transit users, which should help offset vehicular traffic.
Close to 160,000 cars use the existing bridge every day.
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The new structure will be toll free and is costing tax payers more than $4 billion to build.
It is expected to be finished and open to the public by Dec. 1, 2018.