Champlain Bridge: preventive closure of a South Shore-bound lane for a period of one month - Priority repair of a girder

LONGUEUIL, QC, Nov. 13, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) would like to advise road users that following a thorough analysis regarding the presence of an important crack on one of the bridge's edge girders, one of the three south bound traffic lanes will require closure for a period of approximately one month.

Analysis has revealed that this crack could impact the integrity of the girder. It is of utmost importance that no risks be taken and that we act quickly in order to complete the work and re-instate the safety margin.

This closure is necessary to ease the load on the girder and to allow the emergency reinforcement work. The girders adjacent to the identified girder are behaving well and all other lanes can be kept open to traffic.

Our objective is to complete the reinforcement work as quickly as possible in order to reopen this lane to traffic. The construction work will take place seven days a week with two shifts.

The Champlain Bridge is subject to a strict inspection program, which made it possible to detect this problematic girder and rapidly initiate an action plan to proceed with its repair.

Carbon fibre reinforcement will be installed on the girder's damaged area to ensure an effective and rapid reinforcement.

Expect very heavy traffic: the use of public transit is prioritized

This situation will have an important impact on traffic flow.

We strongly suggest using buses, commuter trains, the metro's yellow line, and carpooling during this period. The other South Shore bridges will be unable to compensate for this single lane closure; as a result, all South Shore motorists, regardless of which bridge they use, are encouraged to favour public transit in order to distribute traffic across all bridges.

We ask that all road users and the media participate in encouraging public transit and carpooling.

Champlain Bridge lane configuration

Three Montreal-bound lanes and two South Shore-bound lanes will be kept open to traffic outside of the rush hour periods.

A special lane configuration for rush hour periods will be set up as follows:

Morning rush hour

• Three lanes towards Montreal (buses integrated into traffic)
• Two lanes towards the South Shore

Afternoon rush hour

• Two lanes towards Montreal
• One dedicated bus lane (in the opposite direction as usual)
• Two lanes towards the South Shore

The dedicated lane on the Champlain Bridge will be extended into the evening in order to facilitate traffic. As well, for the return home, buses will use the dedicated lane on Marc-Cantin Street to facilitate their access to the bridge and avoid traffic on the Bonaventure Expressway.

A regular follow-up will be carried out with the Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT) to validate this configuration and make any necessary changes to ensure the optimal passage of public transit in the current context.

A fast-tracked worksite

The Corporation is making every possible effort to speed up this reinforcement work, and teams are already busy at work. This reinforcement work is taking place under the first third of the bridge towards the South Shore. First, work platforms will be installed in the next few days, materials and carbon composite will be brought to the worksite, and a shelter will be built and heated to enable the work to be carried out.

Next, the surface concrete will be demolished and repaired, the work surface will be cleaned, and the carbon fibre will be installed. The contractor will be working seven days a week, with shifts running day and night. The main challenge is to complete this work in difficult working conditions, given the fall weather and risks of freezing, ice and snow.

Analyses and inspections will continue to take place throughout the work and will enable us to closely follow how the situation progresses. We invite you to follow this priority reinforcement work currently underway at www.pontchamplain.ca.

SOURCE: The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated

Source and information:

Jean-Vincent Lacroix 
Director, Communications
The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI)
Office: 450 651-8771, ext. 232
Cell: 514 249-1940
[email protected]