No. H126/13
For release - October 2, 2013
VERDUN, QUEBEC – The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today officially broke ground for the île des Sœurs temporary causeway-bridge.
"I am pleased to mark the start of construction on the île des Sœurs temporary causeway-bridge which kicks off the work on the new bridge for the St. Lawrence," said Minister Lebel. "Building the new bridge continues to be a priority for the Government of Canada. The project is progressing well, and we are meeting deadlines."
Work on the temporary causeway-bridge is expected to be completed by 2015. This bypass bridge will be in place until the île des Sœurs Bridge has been permanently replaced as part of the construction of the new bridge for the St Lawrence.
Minister Lebel took the opportunity to provide an update on the new bridge for the St Lawrence project. He announced that the final environmental assessment report had been posted on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents-eng.cfm?evaluation=65574&type=1. The completion of this report is a key step in the project.
Minister Lebel also reported that in response to the recommendations made by the engineering firm Buckland & Taylor as part of the Champlain Bridge surveillance and maintenance program, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) is currently carrying out work to ensure that the bridge remains safe. He also stated that the Government of Canada is accelerating construction of the new bridge.
"Safety is a priority for our government, and that is why JCCBI is making necessary repairs to the Champlain Bridge," said Minister Lebel. "We will allocate the necessary resources to accelerate the Champlain Bridge maintenance program to ensure that it continues to be safe until the new bridge is in service. In addition, we are developing an action plan to accelerate the in-service date of the new bridge for the St. Lawrence, originally planned for 2021."
On October 5, 2011, the Government of Canada announced that it would be building new infrastructure to replace the Champlain Bridge. This bridge is one of the busiest in Canada, with $20 billion worth of international trade crossing it every year. The Champlain Bridge is a crucial corridor for the regional economy and for Canada as a whole. The project also meets the objectives of Canada's gateway strategies.
Canada's Economic Action Plan promotes new opportunities for growth, job creation and long-term prosperity. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G 7 countries throughout the recovery, with more than a million net new jobs created since July 2009.
Further information on the temporary causeway-bridge and the environmental assessment, as well as an update on the new bridge for the St. Lawrence project, can be found in the attached backgrounders.
To learn more about the new bridge for the St. Lawrence, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/nbfsl.
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Contacts:
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Ottawa
613-948-1838
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
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