/R E P E A T -- Fall construction Blitzes on Champlain Bridge: COMPLETE closure of one direction during two weekends in preparation for the opening of the Île des Sœurs Bypass Bridge/

LONGUEUIL, QC, Sept. 10, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) would like to inform users that one direction of the Champlain Bridge will be COMPLETELY CLOSED during two work blitzes that will take place this fall.

These two blitzes will allow workers to connect the new Île des Sœurs Bypass Bridge to the current Champlain Bridge corridor. Construction of the new bridge began in August 2013 and it will officially be in service once the connections are finalized. Crews will also be able to replace eight expansion joints on the Champlain Bridge's deck and pave viaducts on the A-15 South.

In order to reduce the amount of traffic hindrances as much as possible, JCCBI will concentrate all the works that were scheduled for the fall (initially planned over the course of four or five weekends – view the original schedule) during two weekend blitzes. These endeavours will be the most significant amount of work to ever take place on the Champlain Bridge during the weekend and represent an enormous logistical challenge.

The work is currently scheduled for the following weekends:

October 4 and 5

• Champlain Bridge > towards Montreal > COMPLETE CLOSURE OF LANES
• Champlain Bridge > towards the South Shore > two lanes out of three open
• A-15 > Northbound > COMPLETE CLOSURE until Wellington
• A-15 > Southbound > one lane open from Wellington to Île des Sœurs bridge
• A-Bonaventure > towards Champlain Bridge > the best option to head towards the South Shore and Île des Sœurs via exit 5

October 18 and 19

• Champlain Bridge > towards South Shore > COMPLETE CLOSURE OF LANES
• Champlain Bridge > towards Montreal > two lanes open out of three
• A-15 > Southbound > COMPLETE CLOSURE from Turcot Interchange
• A-15 > Northbound > only one lane open at Wellington
• A-Bonaventure > towards Champlain Bridge > the best option to head towards the South Shore and Île des Sœurs via exit 5

During the first weekend, both lanes on Victoria Bridge will be open in the direction of Montreal. The Victoria Bridge will be open in the direction of the South Shore during the second weekend. The fifth lane on Jacques-Cartier Bridge will be opened as needed in either direction. Major work on the Bonaventure Expressway will also be coordinated accordingly.

Police services will also be on-site during these works to help ease traffic, which will be difficult during these periods.

Île des Sœurs: Long-term closure for preparatory work

It is very important to note for Île des Sœurs residents that the access from Île des Sœurs to 15 North will be closed for three weeks from 10 p.m. on Sunday, September 14 until 5 a.m. on Monday, October 6, to carry out preparatory work in anticipation of the first BLITZ.

• Access ramp from Île des Sœurs > 15 North > COMPLETE CLOSURE

View the access ramp closed and the detour route planned.

To see the REAL-TIME progress of this large-scale worksite, visit this page dedicated to the new bridge. A video showing the work carried out in the last 24 hours is also uploaded every day.

Please be advised that works could be delayed due to weather conditions. A notice will be published on our blog (champlainbridge.ca) on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. in light of weather forecasts in order to inform commuters if the works will go ahead as planned.

You can follow the works on our blog at champlainbridge.ca or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE: The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated

Jean-Vincent Lacroix, Director, Communications, Les Ponts Jacques Cartier et Champlain Incorporée (PJCCI), Office: 450 651-8771, ext. 232, Cell: 514 249-1940, [email protected]; Anne-Marie Braconnier, Advisor, Communications, Les Ponts Jacques Cartier et Champlain Incorporée (PJCCI), Office: 450 651-8771, ext. 465, Cell: 514 292-4493, [email protected]