Samuel De Champlain Bridge - Overview

The Samuel De Champlain Bridge corridor project is one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America. The corridor-wide project not only includes a Samuel De Champlain Bridge, but a new Île-des-Soeurs Bridge and reconstruction and widening of the federal portion of Autoroute 15.

The project's public private partnership will include the following main components:

Samuel De Champlain Bridge

Design, build, finance, operate, and maintain an approximately 3.4 km long new bridge across the St. Lawrence River that replaces the existing Champlain Bridge. The Samuel De Champlain Bridge spans the St. Lawrence River from the Île-des-Soeurs to Brossard, immediately downstream from the existing Champlain Bridge. The Samuel De Champlain Bridge includes a three-corridor design, including two three-lane corridors for vehicular traffic and a two-lane transit corridor capable of accommodating a planned light rail transit system. The Samuel De Champlain Bridge also includes a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. This bridge is expected to have a 125-year design life.

This component opened to traffic, first with the northern corridor toward Montréal on June 24 followed by the southern corridor toward Brossard on July 1. Full demolition of the existing Champlain Bridge is not included in the project.

New Île-des-Soeurs Bridge

Design, build, finance, operate and maintain an approximately 470 m long new bridge linking Île-des-Soeurs to the Verdun borough that replaces the existing Île-des-Soeurs Bridge. The new bridge was built in the current alignment of the existing bridge. The new bridge includes two three-lane corridors for vehicular traffic as well as a multi-use path. A temporary causeway-bridge was built in 2015 to by-pass traffic from the existing bridge. Demolition of the existing Île-des-Soeurs Bridge is included in the project.

The Île-des-Sœurs Bridge officially opened to traffic in both directions on November 12, 2018, and is expected to have a 125-year design life.

Reconstruction and widening of Autoroute 15 on Montréal Island

Design, build, finance, operate and maintain an approximately 3 km long highway linking the Île-des-Soeurs Bridge to the provincial section of Autoroute 15. This component will include the reconstruction of the existing Autoroute 15 and its widening from two to three lanes. It will not include a transit corridor but will include the reconstruction of 7 existing overpasses on the Island of Montréal. The overpasses and other major structures forming this component are expected to have a 75-year design life and will be operational by the end of 2020.

Reconstruction of Autoroute 15 on Île-des-Soeurs

Design, build, finance, operate and maintain an approximately 1 km long highway linking the Samuel De Champlain Bridge to the Île-des-Soeurs Bridge. This component will include two three-lane corridors for vehicular traffic and a two-lane transit corridor capable of accommodating a planned light rail transit system. This component will also include a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, is expected to have a 75-year design life and will be operational by the end of 2020.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

Design, build, finance, and operate intelligent transportation systems. This component is expected to be phased in once the components become operational.

The following table summarizes the Private Partner's responsibilities:

Project Components Design Construction Financing Operations & Maintenance Life Cycle Maintenance Deconstruction Handover
Samuel De Champlain Bridge X X X X X   X
New Île-des-Soeurs Bridge X X X X X   X
Existing Île-des-Soeurs Bridge           X  
Autoroute 15 X X X X X   X
Intelligent Transportation Systems X X X X X   X
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