New crack: Île-aux-Tourtes bridge loses a lane

New cracks have appeared in the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge between Montreal and Vaudreuil-Dorion, forcing an indefinite traffic lane closure on this aging infrastructure, which is now accustomed to closures.

“As part of its regular monitoring of infrastructure conditions, the ministry pays particular attention during the first episodes of snow and has identified new cracks on the side of the bridge on the Montreal side,” MTQ announced Friday evening.

The bridge’s fifth lane, whose direction is determined by a removable barrier depending on the time of day, was able to reopen to traffic just over a month and a half ago, on September 29, after a year of closure due to other cracks discovered. In the fall of 2022.

Other closures?

The new setback announced Friday evening is still being analyzed.

“These will determine whether further interventions are necessary. For now, it cannot be ruled out that other traffic lanes will have to be closed,” MTQ underlined.

Despite all, the ministry ensures that travel on this infrastructure is safe.

The Île-aux-Tourtes bridge has reached the end of its useful life and pending construction of a new bridge, work has been ongoing to maintain it since 2016.

Remember that in May 2021, an emergency forced the bridge to be completely closed to traffic for a week, making it a real nightmare for motorists who had to take Highway 20.