Watch the recap of this exceptional project.

Recap of an exceptional project

JCCBI achieved its goal to accomplish the historic deconstruction of the former Champlain Bridge through in-depth planning to minimize the impact on the environment and the public while also emphasizing the recycling and reuse of materials.

This project finished two months ahead of schedule and within the initial budget of $225.7 million, on top of direct costs to manage COVID-19. Only three complaints were recorded throughout the entire work period.

Overall, 56 spans, 53 piers and 53 pier footings were deconstructed by Nouvel Horizon Saint-Laurent G.P. (NHSL), a consortium made up of Pomerleau Inc. and Delsan-A.I.M. Environmental Services Inc. Three piers (and footings) from the bridge have been preserved and will be enhanced for the Héritage Champlain initiative.

Photo: The deconstruction of the original Champlain Bridge ended in November 2023.

Material reuse

An ambitious program to reduce our environmental footprint

The deconstruction of this 3.4-km bridge generated 264,000 tonnes of materials. NHSL deployed deconstruction methods that exceeded our reuse target of 80% to recover 96% of materials. What’s more, 100% of these materials were traced from the worksite to their final destination at accredited recycling centres.
 
Thanks to JCCBI’s Canada-wide Material Reuse Competition, 11 creative projects will leave different commemorative gifts in honour of this important Montreal structure.

Photo: “Memory” project by artist James Kennedy.

To mark the end of the work, nearly 4,000 keepsake rivets from the bridge’s steel structure were given out to the public in Brossard and on Île des Sœurs in September 2023.

Photo: Rivets handed out in Brossard.

Environmental protection

Many challenges tackled thanks to effective mitigation measures

Since protecting the environment is a core concern for JCCBI, compensation projects were carried out to minimize the impact on fish habitat and the surrounding wetlands.
 
For example, the project in Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola to develop farmland into a flood plain saw 30,000 plants and 300 trees planted to boost biodiversity in this area.

Photo: 30,000 plants and 300 trees planted in 2022.

Under the Estacade, 14 nesting habitats were installed for cliff swallows to offset any habitat loss for this large colony.

Photo: A cliff swallow in its nest under the Estacade.

Research and Development

Sharing lessons learned with the industry

 To learn from the past to better build the future, 12 research projects are in progress to significantly advance our knowledge about infrastructure performance and sustainability.

Héritage Champlain

Enhanced shoreline spaces and commemorative gifts to the community

The deconstruction will conclude in December 2025 with the Héritage Champlain project to develop the land freed up on Île des Sœurs, on the Seaway dike and in Brossard now that the bridge is gone.

All three sites will have bicycle and pedestrian access and rest areas near the shoreline with street furniture and improved vegetation. These sites will also commemorate the original Champlain Bridge.

Photo: Shoreline redevelopment and construction of a lookout using materials from the original Champlain Bridge on the Île des Sœurs side.

Photo: Shoreline redevelopment and preservation of a pier to commemorate the bridge on the seaway dike.

Photo: Shoreline redevelopment and preservation of a pier from the original Champlain Bridge on the Brossard side.

Exemplary execution thanks to committed support from all partners

This major project was carried out with the utmost respect for the environment and the community thanks to JCCBI’s high standards and the commitment of NHSL and all its partners.

JCCBI has won three awards so far in the areas of public participation, the circular economy, and sustainable development.

Re-experience the major stages of this historic deconstruction

Watch the time-lapse video of the 41 months of work.