Landmark Montreal bridge closes for needed repairs

by Carroll McCormick

MONTREAL, Que. – The landmark Jacques Cartier Bridge that connects Montreal and the South Shore will close every night from April to October, both this year and next, for major repairs.

The $120 million project includes replacing 2.7 km of all five lanes of concrete decking.

Most of the work will be done from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, except on Fridays when the bridge will close at 10:00 p.m.

It will remain open to traffic from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and until 10:00 p.m. on Friday.

On the weekend only one lane will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

The threat of $15,000 in fines for each 10 minutes of unauthorized lane closures provides some assurance that truckers can count on the bridge being open during the stated hours.

Message signs along highways will display information on bridge closures and reopenings and will suggest detours and/or alternate routes. Truckers should also keep an eye out for other signs on the bridge approaches and surrounding roads.

Other information on the project will be available on the Federal Bridge Corporation’s Web site, www.federalbridge.ca.

Should there be any problems, the vice-president of communications with the Federal Bridge Corporation, Andre Girard, can be reached at 613-998-8427.

Also check the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridge Web site at www.pjcci.ca or call them at 450-651-8771 ext. 220, or 450-651-8771 ext. 221 to reach Pierre Beaudoin, general manager.

The Transport Quebec Web site, www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca, is also likely to have highway information through their “Etat des Routes” link.

Construction on the Jacques Cartier bridge began in 1925 and it was inaugurated in 1930. In the years since, it has been raised to let taller ships pass under it, expanded from three lanes to five and partially redecked.

A comprehensive cleaning and painting program that began in 1989 is nearly complete. n


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