LONGUEUIL, QC, April 17, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) would like to advise road users that major work BLITZES will take place throughout its network in 2014, most notably on the Champlain and Honoré Mercier Bridges.
In order to reduce the amount of traffic hindrances, significant efforts have been made to concentrate the work during targeted periods in the spring and fall on the Champlain Bridge and during the summer on the Honoré Mercier Bridge.
CHAMPLAIN BRIDGE CORRIDOR
BLITZ on the Champlain Bridge and finalizing the support beam operation
The major work planned for the Champlain Bridge will be concentrated during seven to nine (7 to 9) weekend BLITZES in the spring (May and June) and in the fall (September and October). These BLITZES will cause the closure of three to four lanes out of six during the entire weekend and will mobilize several contractors working 24 hours a day at various places on the Champlain Bridge, the A-15 and the Île des Sœurs Bridge.
It's during one of these weekend BLITZES (May 17 and 18) that the removal of the support beam is planned on the Champlain Bridge.
Beforehand, at the beginning of May, steel modular truss will be installed under the problematic beam with the help of barges. This installation procedure has been modified from the initial procedure, in order to avoid having to completely close the bridge, which was the case last November.
Following this weekend BLITZ that includes the dismantling of the support beam, the bridge will regain the use of all its lanes, as well as the reserved bus lane in the morning.
Champlain action plan: a record year under the bridge
In 2014, close to 85% of the work will take place under the bridge structure without having to close any traffic lanes. The work will be carried out simultaneously on the beams, the slab and the piers to ensure the safety of the bridge from now until it is replaced. As a proactive measure, reinforcements will be added to the beams and the installation of instrumentation will be finalized with the implementation of new sensors.
These sensors will enable inspectors to monitor the Champlain Bridge 24/7. This measure is in addition to regular inspections allowing us to closely follow the bridge's behaviour.
Inauguration of a new Bridge at Île des Sœurs
2014 will also be marked by the inauguration of the new Île des Sœurs bypass bridge, and consequently, the extension of the Champlain Bridge's reserved bus lane.
This new bridge will also allow for the widening of the bicycle path on the Île des Sœurs Bridge and the removal of a traffic light operated in the afternoon on the A-15 North.
To learn more about this new bridge, we invite you to watch this video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdd2JG5_91g
FEDERAL PHASE OF WORK ON THE HONORÉ MERCIER BRIDGE
The federal work phase on the Honoré Mercier Bridge will take place over seven consecutive weeks, from June 21 to August 10. The purpose of this work is to replace the concrete deck of the federal section of the bridge.
Traffic will be particularly difficult during this period because only one lane will be available in each direction, day and night. Road users will be invited to use the Champlain Bridge or the new A-30. Various mitigation measures will be implemented, most notably:
- A traffic ban on trucks during morning rush hour (5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and in the evening (3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) during the seven weeks to ease traffic
- A reserved bus lane will be implemented to make it easier for public transit users to access the bridge in the morning
OTHER WORK ON THE NETWORK
Maintenance work for the Jacques Cartier Bridge will take place mainly beneath the structure (piers and steel) and will not have a major impact on traffic.
Once again this year, repairs on the Bonaventure Expressway will continue, which will require the closure of two lanes for six months from May to December, a period of approximately eight months.
Work for the reconstruction of two new viaducts on the A-15, the Main viaduct and the N viaduct, will also take place this year. To find out more about this work, we invite you to watch this video. Despite the magnitude of this work, these worksites should not cause any major closures.
To follow the work and avoid traffic
To follow all the work, which is subject to change according to weather conditions, road users are invited to frequently visit our three blogs when planning their trips:
The entire presentation made to the media is also available for viewing and downloading here.
SOURCE: The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated
Jean-Vincent Lacroix, Communications Director, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), Office: 450 651-8771, ext. 232 / Mobile: 514 294-1940, [email protected]; Anne-Marie Braconnier, Communications Advisor, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), Office: 450 651-8771, ext. 465 / Mobile: 514 292-4493, [email protected]
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