Quebec Bridge: restoration will be entrusted to a federal Crown corporation

The formalized agreement for the purchase of the Quebec Bridge by Ottawa will entrust the federal Crown corporation Les Ponts Jacques Cartier et Champlain Incorporée (JCCBI) with the mandate to ensure the restoration of the heritage infrastructure, Minister Jean-Yves Duclos will announce Tuesday.

• Also read: Ottawa invests $1 billion over 25 years to preserve the Quebec Bridge

The federal Liberal Minister of Supply and lieutenant of Quebec, Jean-Yves Duclos, will meet the media Tuesday with his colleague the MP for Louis-Hébert, Joël Lightbound. They will announce the realization of what was presented with great fanfare last May, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

Owner

It was a formality, but the agreement with CN which provides for the purchase of the bridge by Ottawa has been concluded, - first revealed. The Journal confirmed that the agreement provides that the federal company which also takes care of the Jacques-Cartier and Honoré-Mercier bridges, in Montreal, will become the owner of the infrastructure and will be in charge of ensuring the restoration of the Quebec bridge.

CN will continue to be responsible for the rail line, and the Government of Quebec, through the Ministry of Transport, for the automobile line and the cycle path.

Advisory Committee

An advisory committee proposed by Minister Duclos will also be set up. It will bring together economic players, citizen groups and others around the same table in order to advise JCCBI.

Last May, Mr. Trudeau announced that the federal government would invest $40 million per year, over 25 years, for a total of $1 billion, to “ensure the long-term viability” of this “essential and historic” infrastructure. than a century old.

Following initial inspections and studies, the work will consist of repairs and reinforcement of the steel, piers and footings, in addition to a painting program.

At the end of the day Monday, the mayor of Lévis praised the work of Jean-Yves Duclos in this matter. Gilles Lehouillier wants to see work quickly to restore its former glory and letters of nobility to the Quebec Bridge.

“For us, this is good news. There have been so many battles over the past few years. Let us rejoice. We must give Mr. Duclos what he did: the Quebec Bridge and the relaunch of shipbuilding with Davie,” he explained.

-With the collaboration of Jean-François Racine