No. H096/06For release August 24, 2006
OTTAWA — The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Government of Quebec today announced the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake have reached an agreement in principle regarding repair work on the Honoré-Mercier Bridge in Montreal, Quebec.
The Honoré-Mercier Bridge connects Ville LaSalle in Montreal with the Mohawk Reserve of Kahnawake and carries approximately 28 million vehicles each year, with an estimated 3,400 trucks daily. It is one of the region's busiest bridges.
The Government of Canada, through its Crown corporation, the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, will work with the Quebec Ministry of Transportation to replace the deck of the bridge and perform other vital maintenance work to ensure the safety of the bridge and prolong the life of the structure. The work is scheduled to start in the spring of 2007 and should be completed by the
fall of 2009.
"Canada's new government is committed to reinvesting in critical infrastructure such as this one," said Minister Cannon. "Keeping the Honoré-Mercier Bridge in good repair is essential to the region's prosperity and quality of life."
"The Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, and the Kahnawake First Nation community are working together to undertake this challenging project," added Minister Cannon. "Quebecers from all over the Greater Montreal area will benefit from the completion of this vital undertaking."
Phase one of the project (the south shore approach ramps) will be carried out by First Nations companies. The second phase (the elevated bridge) will call for companies to include First Nations within the contract.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa 613-991-0700
Danny Kingsberry
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
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