Samuel de Champlain Bridge Corridor
Location: Montreal-Brossard, Quebec
Status: Operational
Provincial/Federal/Municipal: Federal
Value of Partnership: $2.5 billion (capital)
Type of P3: DBFOM
Date of Financial Close: June 2015
Date of Substantial Completion: 2019
Handback: 2049
The Samuel de Champlain Bridge Corridor project reshaped one of Montréal’s most critical transportation links, replacing an aging river crossing with a modern, high-capacity corridor designed for long-term mobility, trade and public transit integration. At the time of its construction, it was one of the largest public infastructure projects in North America.
At the centre of the project is a 3.4-kilometre asymmetric cable-stayed bridge spanning the St. Lawrence River, supported by a second bridge connecting Île-des-Sœurs to the Island of Montréal. Together, the structures form a continuous eight-lane crossing that carries general traffic, a dedicated public transit corridor and a multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclists.
The project included highway widening and interchange upgrades along Autoroute 15, strengthening connections between Montréal, the South Shore and the broader regional highway network.
The project opened in phases. The northbound lanes on the new 3.4-kilometre bridge over the St. Lawrence River opened on June 24, 2019, followed by the southbound lanes on July 1, 2019. The new 500-metre ‘Île-des-Soeurs Bridge opened in November 2018.
The bridges are designed for 125-year service life and the Samuel de Champlain Bridge is built to accommodate evolving transportation needs, including space for the new Réseau express métropolitain LRT line, which opened a few years later.
Architectural guidelines embedded in the project ensured that the final structure contributed a distinctive new gateway to the city skyline. Advanced construction techniques, including extensive use of precast components and composite deck systems, allowed work to proceed on an accelerated schedule while minimizing disruption to traffic and marine navigation.
Environmental protection measures guided construction in sensitive river and shoreline areas, supported by continuous monitoring of air, noise and water quality.
The project was delivered using a public-private partnership where the private partner designed, built and financed the corridor and will continue to operate, maintain, and rehabilitate the project for 30 years until the agreement concludes in 2049.
Monthly payments will be made for the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of the infrastructure if the Signature on the Saint-Laurent Group meets the criteria set out in the project agreement. To ensure SSLG meets all the service and maintenance criteria, penalties will be applied when they are not met, and payments will be reduced.
A Value-for-Money (VFM) report released in July 2015 estimated using a P3 for the project would deliver 33.7 per cent or approximately $1.747 billion in savings for the Government of Canada when compared to a traditional procurement approach.
Built in just 48 months, including four full winter seasons, the Samuel De Champlain Bridge is an engineering achievement and a testament to the success of public-private partnerships. As is normal for large scale projects of this complexity, the construction phase was not absent of issues and challenges. The de-scoping of tolling activities, the challenges involved with the transportation of oversized elements, labour activity, the COVID-19 pandemic and now the reconfiguration of the transit corridor to an LRT are just a few examples of the challenges that were addressed and resolved during the construction period.
Beyond its physical scale, the project established a new benchmark for large, complex bridge delivery in Canada. Its combination of durability, multimodal design and life cycle planning positions the corridor as a foundational piece of Montréal’s transportation network for generations to come.
Partners:
Public: Infrastructure Canada
Private: Signature on the Saint-Laurent Group (ACS Infrastructure Canada, BBGI, AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin), Dragados Canada, Flatiron, TY Lin International)
Awards:
