No. H 010/09
For release - January 9, 2009
MONTREAL – The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced that the Government of Canada is making important investments in Montreal bridges to enhance the safety of commuters and stimulate the local economy.
"Many Quebecers rely on these bridges daily to commute to work and return home to their families," said Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird. "This investment allows for faster commute times, promotes trade and tourism, and boosts Quebec's economy."
Minister Paradis announced that the federal government will contribute $50 million to redeck the Honoré Mercier Bridge and $11 million to reconfigure the access roads and ramps to the Champlain Bridge. The contribution for the Honoré Mercier Bridge is added to $85 million granted to the project in 2006."
"The Government of Canada is delivering real results to improve Canada's infrastructure," said Minister Paradis. "This investment will help put people to work, improve road safety and fuel economic growth."
Rehabilitation of the Honoré Mercier Bridge is needed to ensure the continued safety of users. Construction began this year and is scheduled to be complete in 2010. Approximately 28 million vehicles use the bridge each year.
The roads and ramps providing access to the Champlain Bridge interconnect with the City of Montreal's road system. This project is being coordinated and scheduled with the City of Montreal to ensure that work on one section is complete before beginning the next. Work is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2009. The Champlain Bridge is the busiest in Canada, with an estimated 58 million vehicles using it every year.
A backgrounder with more information on the projects is attached.
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The Government of Canada is investing in redecking the Honoré Mercier Bridge to ensure continued safety of users. The other project is the reconfiguration of the Nuns' Island access to the Champlain Bridge to reduce traffic congestion on existing access roads.
As repairing the country's infrastructure is a priority for the Government of Canada, the redecking project was granted the requested funding of $85 million in 2006. Replacing the deck of the Honoré Mercier Bridge will ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods, extend the life of the bridge and generate direct economic benefits for the Montreal region.
While the original cost estimate for this project was based on the actual costs of similar repairs made to the Jacques Cartier Bridge, an additional $50 million is required due to the unanticipated complexity of the work and higher than expected inflation in construction costs. The new estimates reflect the amount necessary to complete the redecking and are included in Budget 2008. They bring the total federal contribution to $135 million.
The government's timely $11-million funding of the Nuns' Island roadway development project is designed to accommodate the relocation of Bell Canada headquarters and the construction of approximately 2,000 condominium units on Nuns' Island, which are nearing completion. The new roadway configuration was announced by the City of Montreal in spring 2007. Since it is not compatible with Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated's current road network, it is necessary to reconfigure roadways and modify the access and exit ramps to Nuns' Island. This reconfiguration will ensure a seamless integration of and compatibility with the new municipal roadways.
Infrastructure is a good public policy for both the short and long term. Investing in these two proposed projects is in line with the current government priorities of repairing the country's infrastructure and stimulating the economy. Public investments like this can boost job creation now and help advance productivity in the future. These projects are expected to employ thousands of construction workers, stimulate demand for steel and other materials, and boost local economies. The resulting economic stimulus would be geographically widespread.
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, a Crown corporation in the Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Portfolio, is currently undertaking two separate rehabilitation projects.
Financial support for these initiatives is conditional on meeting all federal funding requirements, including Treasury Board approval.
January 2009
