In addition to all the roadwork that motorists will be coping with this summer, you can now add the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges to that long list of construction sites.
Officials are trying to cram in as much work as possible, weather permitting, during long weekends and the construction holiday, plus 24 hour and night work to allow for fewer closures and try to ease motorists’ pain. They’re also working around popular events such as the Grand Prix, the Montreal Marathon and the fireworks competition; they’ve even moved two of the competition dates to Fridays instead of the usual Saturdays.
They’re spending nearly twice as much money than last year on this work blitz: $105 Million.
“Last year we had ten weekend closures. We felt that we could improve on this and be more effective and more efficient. Knowing also that Quebec and the city of Montreal have important work programs as well, we thought the best way to handle this matter would be to try to concentrate, just go in and go out, give a blitz of work,” said Glen Carlin, general manager of the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Corporation.
Work on the Champlain Bridge starts during the Victoria Day long weekend, plus the two following weekends.
Another big project: paving the entire Jacques-Cartier Bridge over two three-day weekends during the construction holiday, starting Sunday, July 22nd, to allow vacationers to flee the day before.
At least one lane will be open in each direction in both projects. Other work to be carried out on the Bonaventure Expressway and the Mercier Bridge is expected to wrap up in October.
Photo: The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated