Îles aux Tourtes Bridge repairs to last from June until September
Work will be carried out while repairs to nearby Île Thomas span continue
The Îles aux Tourtes Bridge will undergo repair work beginning in June.
The work will consist of installing vertical reinforcements on the six-lane bridge on Highway 40 off the western tip of the island, connecting Senneville and Vaudreuil-dorion.
A Transport Quebec spokesperson said repairs on the Île aux Tourtes span, which are scheduled to last until September, will entail some temporary lane closings, but noted that the work shifts will mostly begin in early evenings.
Last year, Transport Quebec made public a 2009 report that identified six girders on the two-kilometre bridge as hav- ing lost at least 30 per cent of their capacity.
The bridge, built in 1966 over the Lac of Two Mountains, is used by more than 85,000 motorists a day.
Transport Quebec officials said the work on the bridge will be done in co-ordination with the reconstruction of the nearby St. Thomas Bridge, which is being totally rebuilt.
The Île aux Tourtes and St. Thomas bridges are so close together that many motorists think it is the same bridge.
A temporary three-lane bridge to replace the westbound Île Thomas span had originally been scheduled to open in mid-december but that was delayed.
It is expected to open in March.
While westbound motorists will use the temporary bridge, eastbound travellers will continue to use the Île Thomas Bridge as it has two separate spans.
The reconstruction of the westbound span of the St. Thomas Bridge was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of August of this year, but that too will be delayed.
Once the westbound St. Thomas span is completed, reconstruction of the eastbound span will begin with completion expected in June 2013.
As well, work will begin this fall to widen the shoulders of Highway 40 between St. Charles Blvd., and the Île aux Tourtes Bridge.
The shoulders are being widened in order to prepare for the rebuilding of that section of Highway 40 in 2013. For more information and updates on lane closings, visit: quebec511.gouv.qc.ca/en/