Des Allumettes Bridge
On this page
- About the bridge
- Description of the bridge
- History of the bridge
- Video: Des Allumettes central steel section installation
- Information for motorists
- Related link
About the bridge
The Des Allumettes Bridge is an important interprovincial bridge that links Pembroke, Ontario, and L’Île-aux-Allumettes, Quebec, over the Ottawa River. Pembroke, west of the bridge, is located in the County of Renfrew, which has a population of about 106,000. L’Île-aux-Allumettes, east of the bridge, is located in the County of Pontiac with a total population of just under 15,000. Both provinces depend on the bridge to support economic activities such as forestry and tourism. The current structure was constructed in 2014 and 2015.
Description of the bridge
The two-lane Des Allumettes Bridge is comprised of three-span continuous twin steel box girders supported on concrete piers and abutments.
The roadway on the bridge is 11 metres wide, with a 3.75-metre-wide traffic lane and 1.75-metre-wide shoulder in each direction. The overall length of the bridge is about 280 metres with span lengths of 85, 110 and 85 metres. The overall out-to-out deck width is 12 metres.
Based on an annual average, about 5,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The Chenaux Dam is the nearest alternative crossing, about 50 km south at Portage-du-Fort.
History of the bridge
The bridge is the first fixed link in a long history of travel across the river. People travelled from the mainland via the historically significant group of islands on the Ottawa River to the municipality of L'Isle-aux-Allumettes, as the Algonquins used the islands as a point of contact with Europeans.
1956: Construction of the bridge begins. Before the bridge was constructed, people in the 19th century crossed using steamboats and later, ferries.
1957: Construction of the original deck truss bridge is completed, with an asphalt overlay and steel pipe railings.
1978: A major deck rehabilitation of the old structure is carried out. This included:
- removal of the asphalt overlay and top concrete, and their replacement with a concrete overlay
- replacement of the expansion joints and repainting of the whole superstructure
1991: Due to increased traffic, the structure is strengthened with additional plates and channels to the top and bottom truss chords. Additionally, the railing and curb are removed and replaced with a concrete barrier.
2013 to 2015: The bridge is replaced due to the advanced state of deterioration in the old structure. The replacement of the bridge addressed requirements on the seismic load and the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code and the Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads published by the Transportation Association of Canada.
Video: Des Allumettes central steel section installation
Watch this video to see the installation of the central steel section of the replacement bridge.
Information for motorists
To keep the bridge operating safely, we maintain a rigorous annual inspection and assessment program for the bridge. Motorists and other users can occasionally expect to encounter alternating lane closures and traffic delays to allow workers to safely conduct repair, maintenance and inspection projects on the bridge.
Motorists who have questions about current and upcoming closures or lane reductions on the Des Allumettes Bridge can consult the latest public notices or our social media channels for updates.
For other information, including traffic information and oversize and overweight permits, please contact the provincial authorities listed below:
Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (Highway 148 on the Ontario side)
- Contact form
- Contact us: Ministry of Transportation
- Tel:
- 416-235-4686
- Toll-free:
- 1-800-268-4686
Ministère des transports, Quebec (Highway 148 on the Quebec side)
- Contact form
- Questions, comments and complaints
- Tel:
- 511 (everywhere in Quebec)
- Toll-free:
- 1-888-355-0511 (everywhere in North America)
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