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Île-aux-Tourtes bridge — Maintenance and reconstruction

General notice

Mitigation Measures

Implementation of dynamic traffic management and new lane configuration on Autoroute 40.

Find out more about obstructions and traffic management.

The Île-aux-Tourtes bridge undergoes regular maintenance work. To make sure it lasts, it will be rebuilt to the north of the existing bridge.

Maintenance Work

Until the bridge is rebuilt, regular structural inspections are carried out and reinforcement work is carried out on an ongoing basis.

The current work consists of repairing and reinforcing beams and slabs. The aim of this work is to maintain traffic flow on this important axis until the new bridge comes into service.

In November 2023, a new crack was detected on the Montréal-bound section of the structure. As a result, traffic lanes were cut back to reduce loads on the structure, pending reinforcement work of beams.

On December 1, 2023, damages to a section of the slab led to significant disruptions, leaving only one lane open in each direction on the bridge. The completion of repair works on the damaged slab allowed the reopening of a third traffic lane on January 15, 2024. 

Work to reinforce the beams is now sufficiently advanced to reinstate dynamic traffic management on Monday May 27.

Obstacles in place and Traffic Management

Some major obstacles may be in place depending on the work progress.

Available lanes to Vaudreuil-Dorion and Montreal

For road safety reasons, two lanes are currently available towards Vaudreuil-Dorion and one towards Montreal, at all times. For the one-lane configuration in December 2023, it was found that congestion in the evening rush hour (westbound) was higher than in the morning rush hour (eastbound).

As of May 27, reinforcement work will be sufficiently advanced to increase the width of the lanes, and consequently reinstate dynamic traffic management.

At the same time, a new configuration of Autoroute 40 will be put in place to develop the area near the future bridge at Vaudreuil-Dorion, with the construction of the slabs and shoulder planned for use by buses (UAB).

As a result, from May 27, two lanes per direction will be available at all times on Autoroute 40 on the approaches to the bridge. On the bridge, two of the three open lanes will be available:

  • Montreal-bound, from midnight to 10 a.m;

  • towards Vaudreuil-Dorion, from noon to 10 p.m., and every weekend.

A complete closure of the bridge will be required over the weekend of May 24 to 27 to carry out these major changes. Details will be released early in the week of May 20.

Every effort is being made to accelerate the beam reinforcement work currently underway, which requires the closure of three of the six traffic lanes. The reopening of additional lanes is envisaged for autumn 2024, but this timetable is dependent on the progress of the work, which is complex.

Wherever possible, workers and employers are encouraged to telecommute and take public transit.

Overweight vehicles (in French only) This hyperlink will open in a new window. are not allowed on the bridge.

Mitigation Measures

Due to the reduced number of traffic lanes on the bridge, the range of mitigation measures has been enhanced, particularly with regard to public transit.

Free transit passes and discounts

Boarding on all exo bus routes in the La Presqu'Île sector is free until the end of May. Users still have to hold a valid transit fare to use a connection with another public transit service. 

The distribution of free public transit tickets for train users will continue until the end of May at Hudson, Vaudreuil, Dorion, Pincourt and Île-Perrot stations on the exo 11 Vaudreuil/Hudson train line. Users boarding at one of these five stations will still receive a free two-pass “All Modes ABC” ticket for the outward and return train journeys, including connections with the bus and metro networks and the REM. These tickets, are distributed seven days a week, according to the train schedule, will be valid until Friday May 31 inclusive.

Starting in June, public transit users will need a ticket to use train and bus services. They will benefit from a 25% discount on the purchase of a 10-pass ABC All-Modes ticket:

  • Regular fare: $42.50 instead of $57;

  • Reduced fare: $28.50 instead of $38.

Tickets will go on sale to residents of the La Presqu'Île sector on Monday, May 27, 2024:

  • At ticket vending machines located at Hudson, Vaudreuil, Dorion, Pincourt-Terrasse-Vaudreuil and Île-Perrot stations;

  • At the exo sales and service outlet at Vaudreuil station;

  • At authorized retailers in the exo La Presqu'Île area.

Temporary Parking Spaces at Vaudreuil Station

More than 300 temporary parking spaces will be created near Vaudreuil station. As a result, even more people will have access to the improved services of the Vaudreuil/Hudson line 11 train and the exo buses in the La Presqu'Île sector. These services are currently offered free of charge by the Gouvernement du Québec, due to the major obstructions required at the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge.

These temporary spaces, which will be available by mid-May and at least until the end of 2024, will be located near the existing park-and-ride lot, within walking distance train station.

Additional train departures

Several departure additions  and route extensions  to the exo 11 Vaudreuil/Hudson train line are available due to the current major obstructions:

  • Train No. 12: departure from Hudson station at 6:13 a.m.;

  • Train No. 16: departure from Vaudreuil at 7:30 a.m.;

  • Train No. 18: departure from Hudson station at 7:33 a.m.;

  • Train No. 21: departure from Vendôme station at 4:46 p.m., with route ending at Hudson station;

  • Train No. 27: departure from Vendôme station at 6:11 p.m., with route ending at Hudson station.

Bus-only shoulders

The use of bus-only shoulders (in French only) This hyperlink will open in a new window. is allowed on certain sections of the A-40 westbound (towards Vaudreuil-Dorion), between Autoroute 13 and Boulevard des Anciens-Combattants. This measure is authorized only for school, exo and STM buses, subject to compliance with the conditions stipulated in the Highway Safety Code for traffic on a shoulder. This will enable public transit users to bypass the congestion caused by the lane configuration on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge.

Suspension of autoroute 30 tolls

The toll suspension on Autoroute 30, currently in effect eastbound in the morning, will be lifted when a second lane reopens in the direction of rush-hour traffic on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, scheduled for Monday, May 27.

Purpose of the reconstruction project

Commissioned in 1965 and located in the axis of the autoroute Félix-Leclerc (autoroute 40), the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge links the island of Montréal (village of Senneville) to the Montérégie region (city of Vaudreuil-Dorion). It is a key infrastructure and part of the strategic road network supporting commercial exchanges. Nearly 87,000 vehicles use the structure every day, including around 10% trucks (2019 data). 

The reconstruction project has the following objectives:

  • make sure that people and goods can move along the autoroute 40 axis between the island of Montréal and the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region;

  • promote active and public transportation;

  • enhance the infrastructure and make sure it blends into the landscape;

  • preserve the integrity of the surrounding environment. 

The new bridge will include: 

  • three traffic lanes per direction;

  • a multi-purpose track;

  • wide shoulders suitable for bus use only. 

 See a cross-section view of the future Île-aux-Tourtes bridge (JPG 589 Kb)

Computer-generated image of the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, panoramic view.

Construction Method

The project is being carried out on a design-build-finance basis.

The work is being carried out by Groupe Nouveau Pont Île-aux-Tourtes inc., consisting of:  

  • Dragados Canada inc. 

  • Excavation

  • Construction Demathieu & Bard (CDB) inc

Work Progress

Design activities and construction work are underway.

The new bridge will be commissioned progressively from the end of 2026. 

Here are the major milestones achieved and to come in this project:

  • October 2021 — Decree authorizing the project

  • February 2023 — Start of preparatory work

  • April 2023 — Signing of the design, build, and finance contract with the selected contractor

  • Autumn 2023 — Start of construction work

  • End of 2026 — Commissioning of a first structure (five available lanes with dynamic management in the direction of peak traffic)

  • End of 2027 — Commissioning of the second structure (six lanes available, i.e. three lanes on each of the two open structures)

  • End of 2028 — Completion of the multi-purpose track

  • 2029 — End of deconstruction of existing bridge

  • 2030 — End of work 

Cost

The total cost of the reconstruction project, $2.3 billion, is entirely financed by the gouvernement du Québec. 

Consultations

The ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable will continue its consultation process throughout the project to keep abreast of local and regional concerns.

Here are the activities carried out:

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Contact the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable

Last update: May 17, 2024

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