Statement by Minister Denis Lebel Regarding Measures to Ensure the Safety of the Champlain Bridge

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 26, 2015) - Upon reading an article published in this morning's edition of the Journal de Montréal, I want to make some clarifications.

First of all, our Government updates the public on the state of the bridge and the maintenance work required on a regular basis. In this context, only a few weeks ago, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated informed journalists from the Greater Montreal area of the maintenance work that would take place. This work has been underway for some time now, and it is directly linked to the state of the girders.

All in all, it is about one billion dollar that our Government has set aside in order to ensure that all of the necessary maintenance work is done and that the Champlain bridge remains safe until the new bridge is open in December 2018.

Moreover, if the Champlain bridge wasn't safe, it wouldn't be open. It is that simple.

I want to repeat to the people of the Greater Montreal area that the Champlain bridge is completely safe and that they can use it without any danger.

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