The Champlain Bridge has reached the end of its service life. It is now replaced with a new bridge and will be taken down starting in 2020 according to a sustainable development approach. This major project will last three years and has many components that are detailed in these fact sheets: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MATERIAL REUSE and RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Once new space around the former bridge becomes available, the shoreline and the Estacade (which spans the river) will be redeveloped for recreation and commemorative purposes. Another component called HERITAGE CHAMPLAIN, will get the community’s creativity involved in this project.
The Champlain Bridge has reached the end of its service life and will be taken down using a sustainable development approach. This is an immense operation that will involve the deconstruction, transportation and reuse of 250,000 tonnes of concrete, 25,000 tonnes of steel, and 12,000 tonnes of asphalt.
The components will be carefully taken apart to minimize the impact on the environment and the public and to promote the reuse of the bridge’s materials. Mitigation measures will be implemented to minimize the project’s overall greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Another goal for the Champlain Bridge deconstruction is Envision recognition. The Envision program evaluates how well a project meets specific criteria of Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World, and Climate and Resilience.
For more information, see the Deconstructing the Champlain Bridge in the Era of Sustainable Development fact sheet.
The Champlain Bridge will be deconstructed starting in 2020 as it has reached the end of its service life. Inaugurated in 1962, the 3.4-km long Champlain Bridge can no longer be maintained, as design and drainage problems caused essential structural components to prematurely corrode, and this deterioration will only get worse over time.
To deconstruct the Champlain Bridge, JCCBI will use a sustainable development approach with different components that include material reuse and traceability, environmental protection, applied research, and the redevelopment of the shoreline for residents once the approaches of the former bridge are removed.
During the information days and online consultations that ended on June 30, over 4,000 people commented on the various aspects of the Champlain Bridge deconstruction project: environmental protection, material reuse, the research and development program and Héritage Champlain. This last component generated a lot of interest, as the public could make suggestions about how to redevelop the land that will be freed up along the shoreline after the Champlain Bridge is deconstructed. The public submitted comments that fell under four main themes: active transportation; the creation and preservation of public spaces; site ecology and urban agriculture; and public art, historical, cultural and commemorative installations. Read the public consultation report.
The Champlain Bridge contains 250,000 tonnes of concrete, 25,000 tonnes of steel and 12,000 tonnes of asphalt that can be reused. JCCBI is therefore launching an ambitious program to maximize the reuse of steel from the Champlain Bridge for arts, tourism, recreation, and infrastructure projects.
A priority of this program will be the reuse and possible recycling of materials at local sites. JCCBI will use a traceability system to carefully track the materials throughout the disposal process.
For more information, refer to the Material Reuse fact sheet.
After the deconstruction of the original Champlain Bridge, 7 acres of land around the bridge approaches will become vacant and used to create value for residents. You can have a say about how the shoreline, including the area around the Estacade, will be redeveloped. Many options are possible, and residents can make their suggestions at ongoing and future public consultations.
1. Montreal shoreline
2. Champlain Bridge Estacade
3. Area around the St. Lawrence Seaway dike
4. Brossard shoreline
The redevelopment project will leave a legacy for the community, give residents enhanced access to the St. Lawrence River, and preserve portions of the bridge to commemorate its part in Montreal history.
For more information, refer to the Heritage Champlain fact sheet.
To carry out its targeted environmental analysis (TEA), JCCBI is enhancing Transport Canada’s 2013 environmental study for the construction of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge, as this study also covered the deconstruction of the Champlain Bridge. The goal of the TEA is to evaluate the impacts of possible deconstruction methods and determine whether the mitigation measures and goals set out in the 2013 environmental study are still appropriate or whether they need to be improved or replaced based on best practices in 2019 and the lessons learned during the construction of the new bridge.
The TEA addresses multiple environmental components: soil, water and air quality; greenhouse gases; noise levels; wildlife and plant life; at-risk species; boating activities; and maintaining economic activities on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The analysis also includes studies on mobility and the impacts of truck traffic. The many mitigation measures JCCBI plans to implement include three compensation programs related to fish habitats and wetland areas, greenhouse gases, and cliff swallow habitats.
For more information, refer to the Environmental Protection fact sheet and Preliminary Targeted Environmental Analysis. (Targeted Environnemental Analysis summary)
In relation to the original Champlain Bridge deconstruction project, ten research projects were selected which will significantly advance our knowledge about infrastructure performance and sustainability. This research program will be carried out with different Canadian research entities. To learn more about the selected projects, please consult the fact sheet.
The deconstruction project of the Champlain Bridge becomes a unique opportunity for JCCBI to better understand the life cycles of its infrastructure. To learn more about these projects, please take a look at the Research and development fact sheet.
