Quebec’s Ministry of Transport says preparatory work will begin next week on the much-anticipated new Ile aux Tortes bridge, a vital link between Montreal’s West Island and Vaudreuil-d’Orion.
Under the plan, clearance for foliage and ground excavation works will be carried out. Some public service equipment in the area will also be relocated.
The ministry announced the forthcoming work in a statement on Friday, saying it was the first step for the new bridge project to move forward.
read more:
Residents of remote islands frustrated by traffic on Ile aux Torto bridge
Read the following:
Part of the Sun breaks free, forming a strange vortex that baffles scientists
“These initial interventions will allow us to begin as soon as possible this project, which is essential for the movement of citizens in Greater Montreal,” Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbeau said in a statement.
In the meantime, repair work is underway on the existing Il Otorto Bridge, which runs along Route 40. Since last December, the span has been reduced to two lanes in each direction, causing frustrating riders to get stuck in traffic.
Carpool drivers, taxis and buses will be able to use the temporary reserved lanes from 27 February. Officials say they will step up police patrols in the coming days to ensure drivers respect reserved lanes.
As for the final construction of the new bridge, the Quebec government has said it will use a company or group of companies to undertake the project. A deal could be signed as early as the spring, which would give the state a new span schedule and price tag.
read more:
Orange cones welcoming drivers on the Ile aux Torto Bridge
Read the following:
Exclusive: Widow’s 911 call before James Smith Cree Nation murder reveals previous violence
Earlier this week, La Presse reported that the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge will cost around $2 billion.
The Ile aux Torto bridge was first opened in 1965. This span is in heavy use, with data suggesting that approximately 80,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
— Using files from Global News’ Elizabeth Zogalis and The Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
