“I wish to reiterate that the Champlain Bridge is being monitored daily and that user safety continues to be our primary concern.

“The bridge is managed by a corporation which acts independently of the government. On December 15, 2011, it held a technical briefing about the work described in an article in this morning’s La Presse.

“We have always acted in a transparent manner on this issue. We have invested the funds needed to ensure the safety of the bridge and its users, and we will continue to do so.

“We have undertaken major renovation work to make the existing bridge safe until a new bridge is opened. More specifically, we have set aside $380 million for maintenance. The experts assure us that the work now under way will have no impact on the structure, and that the bridge remains safe.”

Contacts

Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec, Ottawa
613-943-1838

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through RSS,Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This statement may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.