Presentation

Montreal’s Samuel De Champlain Bridge is one of North America’s busiest spans, with 50 million cars, buses and trucks crossing it each year.

In addition to its being used by residents of the metropolitan region for their everyday commute, the crossing is part of a vital overland link for freight transportation between Canada and the United States.

The old Champlain Bridge was open to traffic on June 28,1962, increased traffic combined with the damage caused by road salt and other factors have contributed to the structure’s considerable wear and tear. This is why, in 2015, a new worksite was put into operation to build a new bridge called Samuel De Champlain Bridge. In April 2015, the Government of Canada selected the Signature on the Saint Lawrence consortium for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the project. The new bridge was built and opened to traffic on July 1, 2019.

Designing the Samuel De Champlain Bridge was a long-term project that started years before the initial groundbreaking. Here is a brief overview:

The project includes:

• The construction of the new 3.4-kilometre Samuel De Champlain Bridge;
• A new 470-metre bridge for L’Île-des-Sœurs;
• The widening of Highway 15 between the Atwater interchange and the new bridge;
• The improvement of the ramps leading from Highways 132 and 10 on the South Shore to the bridge.

In addition, the project incorporates:

• Rigorous environmental monitoring and mitigation measures to protect the surrounding natural environment;
• Architectural quality and features that will enhance Montreal’s cityscape and contribute to the corridor’s status as the main gateway to the city;
• A corridor reserved for public transit and a safe, accessible multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.