Champlain Bridge to Receive New ‘Super Beam’

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The authority taking care of Champlain Bridge, Jacques Carter and Champlain Bridges Corporation, has recently announced their plan to install a new support beam beneath the one that abruptly cracked a short while ago causing closure of another lane today. During a news conference held on Friday, transport officials revealed that it has become necessary to install the new beam by mid-December, which is anticipated to take two days of limited traffic down to two lanes, i.e. one in each direction. Additionally, the officials revealed that they aim to carry out the procedure on a weekend, so it could reduce its impact on drivers.

During the announcement, General Manager of the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated, Glen P. Carlin stated that “we did not expect the beam to show stress so early.” He also revealed that the “super-beam” weighs of 75 tonnes and was manufactured in 2009 as a preventive measure. It was added that the gigantic piece of steel will be sent to Nun’s Island for assembling, after which it will be lifted up using a barge or lowered from a crane. Once installed, this “super-beam” will reinforce the cracked beam.

A statement issued on late Thursday night by the Jacques Carter and Champlain Bridges Corporation, alleged that “since closing a lane on the Champlain Bridge, we’ve been closely monitoring the girder that requires reinforcement, and in recent days have noted that its condition has continued to decline.” It was added that “as a preventive measure, we are obliged to close a second southbound lane to carry out a special inspection to thoroughly analyze the situation.”