Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Montreal's New Samuel De Champlain Bridge Officially Inaugurated

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Jun, 2019 11:55 PM

    Montreal's new Samuel de Champlain Bridge was officially inaugurated today, and will fully open to traffic on Canada Day.


    Today's inauguration comes 57 years to the day the first Champlain Bridge opened on June 28, 1962.


    The bridge — one of Canada's largest infrastructure projects — opened to northbound traffic towards Montreal on Monday, and southbound traffic will begin next Monday.


    It was originally scheduled to open last December, but various delays pushed back the opening and added another $235 million to the original $4.2 billion price tag.


    A pedestrian and bike path will open later this summer on the new 3.4 kilometre span.


    The old Champlain bridge will close permanently later this evening and deconstruction work on the 57-year-old bridge is scheduled to begin next year and will take about three years to complete at an estimated cost of $400 million.


    Federal Infrastructure Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Quebec Transport Minister Francois Bonnardel, as well as the mayors of Montreal and Brossard, were on hand for the opening, which included an Aboriginal blessing and the singing of the national anthem.


    Also on hand were some of the more than 2,000 people who worked on the new span, devoting more than eight million work hours in freezing or scalding temperatures.


    The new bridge is expected to last 125 years.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    3 South Asian Suspects Wanted After Teen Assaulted In The Middle Of Traffic In Surrey

    Surrey RCMP is advising the public of an assault investigation and requesting their assistance to identify three suspects.

    3 South Asian Suspects Wanted After Teen Assaulted In The Middle Of Traffic In Surrey

    Ontario Court Upholds Ruling To Allow Sexual Activity Evidence In Boyle Case

    Boyle, 35, has pleaded not guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice to offences against Caitlan Coleman, 33, including assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement.

    Ontario Court Upholds Ruling To Allow Sexual Activity Evidence In Boyle Case

    Liberals Prepare To Spend $50M On Social-Finance Plan, But No Strategy For Now

    The Liberals are taking their first $50-million step in a plan to finance experimental ways to deliver social services.

    Liberals Prepare To Spend $50M On Social-Finance Plan, But No Strategy For Now

    Trudeau Appoints Jacqueline O’Neill As Canada’s First Ambassador For Women, Peace And Security

    OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Canada's first ambassador for women, peace and security.

    Trudeau Appoints Jacqueline O’Neill As Canada’s First Ambassador For Women, Peace And Security

    Free Transit OK'd For Youth Living In Victoria, Starts In September

    The Victoria Regional Transit Commission unanimously approved a plan by the municipality to provide free bus passes to students who live in the city and are 18 years old or under.

    Free Transit OK'd For Youth Living In Victoria, Starts In September

    Man Who Praised Quebec Mosque Shooter In Online Videos Gets 30 Days In Jail

    LAVAL, Que. — A Quebec man who was found guilty last May of inciting hatred against Muslims has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.    

    Man Who Praised Quebec Mosque Shooter In Online Videos Gets 30 Days In Jail