Quebecers can say goodbye to the heart of the old Champlain Bridge. This immense steel span, more than 100 meters long, which has been overlooking the river for 60 years, was detached during the night. It began its descent towards the river at the end of the morning on Friday.
After having sat at the entrance to Montreal for several decades, the imposing 2,200-ton steel structure will be placed on two huge barges and towed against the current to Brossard, to be dismantled in the spring.
“Although this type of work is carried out on occasion in the world, never has an operation of this scope been carried out in Canada”, indicates Fabrice Guedon, project director of Nouvel Horizon St-Laurent (NHSL), the consortium responsible for the deconstruction work, in a statement released on Friday. “Especially in winter conditions and operational constraints like on this project,” adds Mr. Guedon.
About fifty workers were required for this phase of the project. Between 6 and 24 hours could be necessary to lower the span to the barges, located about thirty meters below, on the river.
More details to come.