Feds to replace Champlain Bridge

[DukeNukem]

I Think this was definitely expected.
I thought that it would deserve a thread since its a pretty big project.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montre...idge-plan.html

[Filip]

Why are the Feds building a bridge in Montreal? I understand that for some reason the bridges are federal responsibility, due to their regional importance (etc, etc) but why aren't the Feds building subways and GO trains for Toronto? They're arguably even more important!

Bullshit, more cash for QC.

[davidivivid]

The Champlain Bridge is fully owned and operated by the Jacques Cartier & Champlain Bridges Inc, itself owned by the Federal Bridge Corp Inc due to its strategic national importance.

- $20 billion of international trade crosses the bridge annually.
- Most of the merchandise heading to the U.S. and Ontario via the Port of Montreal, Canada's 2nd busiest port, transits through this bridge.
- Previous number excludes the economic value of domestic trade and local activity assisted by it.
- The bridge's value to international trade is compounded by Montreal's lack of a ring road, making it a key artery for interprovincial truck traffic.
- Busiest bridge in Canada with 160,000 daily crossings.

The bridge opened in 1962 and has needed major repairs for years, repairs which were postponed by the Federal. A recent report on the bridge's condition estimated that major repairs to prolong its life would cost an estimated $25 million over the next decade. The report concluded the bridge would have to be replaced eventually, even with repairs.

A structural assessment report released in March showed that “some of the deterioration that has been observed is very severe.”

The report concluded that the span, in its current state, “could be expected to collapse partially or altogether in a significant seismic event.”

The bridge, the report said, “is not in a condition which is compatible with it continuing to serve as a major crossing of the St-Lawrence River.

In other words: a key national infrastructure owned and operated by the Federal government is severely deteriorating, endangering both the population and the economy, so it will be replaced by its owner, who recognizes its strategic importance.

... sigh .


http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/can...issue-rae.html
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/M...e-presse.shtml
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2096431/

[Rumors]

That's great news.

[Taller, Better]

This is important, but should be in the Quebec forum!

[isaidso]

Is the Champlain bridge the heavy iron one with the metal grating road?

[DukeNukem]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Is the Champlain bridge the heavy iron one with the metal grating road?

no that's the Victoria Bridge. Its the one on the left side of Victoria bridge when you're looking towards the island of Montreal.

[davidivivid]

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier...ain_bridge.jpg

[ssiguy2]

The Montreal Mafia contractors are going to be having wet dreams tonight.

[DukeNukem]

Originally Posted by ssiguy2

The Montreal Mafia contractors are going to be having wet dreams tonight.

hopefully a foreign company gets the contract....Quebec contractors have lost our trust

[trainrover]

Originally Posted by Filip

Bullshit, more cash for QC.

After all these decades, has the term Quebec-bashing finally been indexed in any Canadia/en dictionary? This argument became worn thin a long time ago, ain't there a more original one by now? It ain't a province's fault if such an asset be owned and maintained federally; besides, no fed has had the wits yet to equip the crossing with passenger rail:

.......(06 Oct 2011)

Originally Posted by trainrover

Public transit absent from Champlain Bridge announcement

Originally Posted by trainrover

18 Oct 2011:

Quebec considers train options for new Champlain Bridge