The consortium building a new bridge to replace the crumbling Champlain Bridge is playing down concerns about 2,000 defects that reportedly have been found in parts manufactured by a Spanish company.
READ MORE: Workers on overdrive to finish Montreal’s new Champlain Bridge
A spokesman says all the problems are being ironed out and the $4.2-billion bridge will be delivered on time next December.
The new structure, which spans the Saint Lawrence River, is being built by the federal government.
READ MORE: New Champlain Bridge celebrates one year of construction
Federal transport minister Marc Garneau says he wants people to know the structure “is in good hands.”
He told reporters in Ottawa Mon day all the parts for the new Champlain Bridge are inspected and are repaired or rejected when there are non-conformities.
READ MORE: Whistleblowing engineer who exposed Champlain Bridge woes faces sanction
A report in Le Journal de Montréal Monday lists a number of defects, including porous steel plates, incomplete or non-existent soldering, defective bolts and several holes poorly aligned in parts that have to be bolted together.
WATCH BELOW: Construction on the Champlain
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Champlain Bridge slated to open in 2018 -
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Champlain Bridge construction ramping up -
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Champlain bridge in Montreal nears end of life 30 years too soon -
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Take two: rebuilding a Champlain Bridge overpass -
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Overweight vehicles prohibited on Champlain Bridge -
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Champlain Bridge celebrates one year -
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Champlain Bridge construction update
The consortium’s website says a project the size of the new bridge will inevitably encounter technical challenges.
READ MORE: Lawsuit filed over Champlain Bridge construction delays
However, it adds that when an irregularity is raised, the only focus is to correct the situation so the permanent works conform to standards.
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