Jacques Cartier Bridge: complete closure at night to be expected during the weekends (March 15 & 16 - March 22 & 23)

LONGUEUIL, QC, March 11, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) announce the complete closure of the Jacques Cartier Bridge at night from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. during the night of Friday to Saturday and during the night of Sunday to Monday, in order to replace bearing devices under the bridge.

The work will occur during the weekends of March 15^th and 16th and March 22^nd and 23^rd. Between these two complete night closures, two lanes will remain open on the Jacques Cartier Bridge in both directions during the weekend.

Following the first weekend of work resulting in the closure of the metro's yellow line, opening two lanes per direction on the Jacques Cartier Bridge has been deemed sufficient to compensate for the addition of shuttle buses on the bridge. Keeping one lane in five closed should not have a major impact on traffic.

The work to replace the bearing devices is carried out under the structure of the bridge and requires complete night-time closures to avoid the overloading caused by vehicles. During these closures, powerful jacks will be used to slightly raise a section of the bridge's deck and then replace the bearing devices. Approximately 665 tons will be moved during each of these substantial manoeuvres. These are carried out late at night in order to limit to the utmost the inconvenience to road users.

The structural bearings allow the bridge to react appropriately. Like shock absorbers on a vehicle, they absorb the constant vibrations in the bridge's structure caused by passing traffic, especially trucks.

The bearings are installed between the steel structure (the beams) and the piers to protect the latter. As these bearings age and lose their "springiness", they must be completely changed. A program designed for this purpose was launched in 2006.

To follow the work and expected closures ahead, we invite road users to obtain more information by visiting our blog: www.jacquescartierbridge.ca.

SOURCE: The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated

For further information: Jean-Vincent Lacroix, Director, Communications, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), Office: 450 651-8771, ext. 232, Cell: 514 249-1940, [e-mail]