The Îl-aux-Tourtes bridge closed today due to structural issues. The bridge connects the West Island of Montreal to Vaudreuil-Soulanges on highway 40. The news came from a Transport Minister official who announced on twitter this afternoon (Thursday May 20, 2021).
Traffic will now be diverted to highway 20 and 30. It is completely unclear to when the bridge will open again. Transport Minister does not see the bridge being closed long term. However, they can not give an exact timeline.
Structural issues are the cause of the bridges shutdown which were caused by human error. Dozens of steel rods that are to reinforce the structure were damaged during regular maintenance.
While construction was ongoing workers noticed series of damage on reinforcement rods on the Îl-aux-Tourtes bridge. The structure might have been compromised so the only safe option was to close the bridge completely to ensure safety to the public.
The Vaudreuil-Hudson train will be free until the bridge reopens. The SQ Police and SPVM will also be at specific locations to try keep traffic moving.
The Ministry of Transport says it, “is aware that the closure will have significant repercussions on traffic and thanks road users for their co-operation. When possible, it is recommended to use public transport or to work from home.”
When was the Îl-aux-Tourtes bridge built?
The Îl-aux-Tourtes bridge was completed in 1965 and has gone under major and costly repairs since. Reports of almost $90 million where spent on repairs by 2018 and another $45 million in repairs were expected to be spent.
Almost 85,000 vehicles drive over the structure everyday.
People who use the Îl-aux-Tourtes bridge will be diverted to the Galipeault Bridge that connects Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and L’Île Perrot.
The Quebec government have had plans to replace the Îl-aux-Tourtes bridge for years but nothing concrete has been decided.
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