The Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, which connects the west of the island of Montreal to Vaudreuil-Dorion, has already been forced to reduce the number of its lanes due to a crack discovered last week. It is now limited to just one lane in each direction.
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“As of 12:01 a.m. this Saturday, only one lane in each direction will be available on the bridge due to damage to part of the slab,” the Ministry of Transport (MTQ) said on Friday evening.
Due to the discovery of a crack in the bridge structure, the bridge had been limited to three lanes since Monday, two in the direction of travel and one in the opposite direction. The structure also had to be completely closed to traffic last weekend.
“The reopening of a third lane and the return to dynamic traffic management during the week will be possible after completion of repair work on the damaged roadway,” the MTQ said on Friday, without giving a timetable.
The MTQ recommends drivers use public transport. The local train will also be free from Monday. Trains were also included in the timetable.
To provide drivers with an alternative, access to the Highway 30 toll plaza will also be free for the duration of the work.
The bridge should normally have a total of six lanes. However, the building, which was inaugurated in 1965, has reached the end of its useful life and has been cut down or completely closed several times in recent years due to its dilapidation.
A project to build a new bridge is underway, but its inauguration is not expected until 2026 at the earliest. Until then, the MTQ must continue to invest millions of dollars in the maintenance of the Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge.