Île-aux-Tourtes bridge — Maintenance and reconstruction
Mitigation Measures
Free public transit maintained until further notice.
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.
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
Two lanes to Vaudreuil-Dorion and one to Montréal are currently available at all times. Analysis of the configuration with one lane open in each direction showed heavier congestion during the evening peak (westbound) than during the morning peak (eastbound). Also, the evening peak lasted longer than the morning peak. With this in mind, opening two westbound lanes is the best option.
Dynamic traffic management cannot be implemented for road safety reasons. Increasing the width of the traffic lane, which is required to implement dynamic traffic management, is not possible due to the area needed to carry out the beam reinforcement work.
The Ministère is making every effort 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. The Ministère is not compromising on the safety of road users.
Wherever possible, workers and employers are encouraged to telecommute and take public transit.
Overweight vehicles (in French only) 
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 public transit
Boarding on all exo bus routes in the La Presqu'Île sector is free until further notice. 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 further notice 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. Free tickets are distributed seven days a week, according to the train schedule.
Validating the free ticket issued to users is essential to avoid being fined. Therefore, users must validate the first ticket when they receive it at the train station for the outward journey, and then do the same with the second ticket for the return journey.
Information to plan trips are available in the Chrono application.
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 Lucien-L’Allier station at 4:40 p.m., with route ending at Hudson station;
Train No. 27: departure from Lucien-L’Allier station at 6:05 p.m., with route ending at Hudson station.
Bus-only shoulders
The use of bus-only shoulders (in French only) is allowed on autoroute 40 westbound (towards Vaudreuil-Dorion), between exit 49 (chemin Sainte-Marie) and boulevard des Anciens-Combattants. This section adds to several others where UAB was already possible, between autoroute 13 and boulevard Saint-Charles. 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 new lane configuration on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge.
Suspension of autoroute 30 tolls
Except for public holidays, tolls on autoroute 30 are currently suspended in eastbound lanes from Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m, as only one eastbound lane remains available on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge. This is also the period with the most traffic toward Montreal.
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:
December 17, 2020, to January 18, 2021: architectural and landscape integration consultation (via an online questionnaire open to all).
Rapport de la consultation sur l'architecture de janvier 2020 (in French only) (PDF 3.18 Mb)
January 21, 2020: environmental consultation, with a discussion table set up with citizens and representatives of organizations and municipalities.
Résumé de la consultation sur l’environnement de janvier 2020 (in French only) (PDF 518 Kb)
October 1 and 30, 2019: consultation on architecture and landscape integration, with the setting up of a discussion table with citizens and representatives of organizations and municipalities.
Résumé de la consultation publique en architecture d’octobre 2019 (in French only) (PDF 507 Kb)
March 18 to April 12, 2019: consultation on the project via an online questionnaire open to all.
Rapport de la consultation de mars 2019 (in French only) (PDF 4.09 Mb)
March 18 and 27, 2019: consultation on the project with the organization of an open house event for citizens and representatives of organizations, companies, and municipalities, etc.
Rapport de la consultation de mars 2019 (in French only) (PDF 4.09 Mb)
Présentation de la consultation publique de mars 2019 (in French only) (PDF 9.28 Mb)
December 15, 2015: consultation on the project with the setting up of a consultation table with representatives of organizations and municipalities.
Newsletter Subscription
To make sure you don’t miss any news about the project, fill in the form to subscribe to our mailing list (in French only).
Contact the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable
See also
- Rapport du vérificateur de processus concernant le déroulement de l’appel de qualification – Projet de reconstruction (In French only) (PDF 844 Kb)
- Rapport du vérificateur de processus concernant le déroulement de l'appel de propositions – Projet de reconstruction (In French only) (PDF 339 Kb)
- Rapport du vérificateur de processus concernant le déroulement de l'activité de clôture – Projet de reconstruction (In French only) (PDF 263 Kb)
Last update: April 30, 2024
