![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972157.1721587842!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Construction of replacement Ile-Aux-Tourtes bridge officially underway
Construction of the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge has officially started, Quebec's Transport Ministry announced on Monday.
The $2.3 billion bridge will replace the existing structure built in 1965, which is approaching the end of its life.
In fact, the bridge's aging infrastructure has led to the closure of all but two lanes, one in either direction. The closures, ongoing since Dec. 2, have been the source of some serious headaches for commuters travelling between Vaudreuil-Dorion and the Island of Montreal.
The plan is for the existing bridge to come down once its replacement is built -- and that work is finally underway, according to the Quebec government.
"Obtaining environmental authorizations from the federal government at the end of November marked a significant turning point in this major project for the region," reads a Monday press release from the Transport Ministry.
"The initial work consists of building a jetty in the form of riprap in the water, followed by pile drilling."
A jetty is a structure that extends into the water, while a riprap is a layer of rocky materials used to protect a structure or shoreline from erosion.
The new bridge will have three traffic lanes in either direction, as well as a two-way "multi-use" path.
While it's expected to open to traffic in 2026, the ministry says completion of the entire project, including the dismantling of the old bridge, is expected to wrap up in 2030.
RESTRICTING HEAVY TRUCKS
Alas, 2026 is still years away. With traffic on the existing bridge reduced to just two lanes, a few measures are in place to ease congestion on the roads.
In "the next few days," the Transport Ministry says heavy trucks will be prohibited from using the right lane of Highway 20 during rush hour (eastbound from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and westbound from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
Truckers are asked to use Highway 30 instead, where tolls have been temporarily lifted.
"The exact start date of this ban will be announced at a later date, and a follow-up will be carried out to assess its impact," Monday's news release states.
Other measures already underway include free bus fare for the 7, 10, 35, 91 and 40-express routes and free train service on Exo's 11 Vaudreuil-Hudson line.
In addition, to help keep traffic moving, buses can use the shoulder on Highway 40 westbound (towards Vaudreuil-Dorion) for 1.5 kilometres between Frédéric-Back Street and Des Anciens-Combattants Boulevard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6972157.1721587842!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING NEWS Biden drops out of 2024 race, endorses Harris to be Democratic nominee
U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about the incumbent's fitness for office with the election just four months away. It was a late-season campaign thunderstrike unlike any in American history.
What happens next: Joe Biden wants to pass the baton to Kamala Harris. Here's how that might work
With U.S. President Joe Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrats now must navigate a shift that is unprecedented this late in an election year.
Harris, endorsed by Biden, could become first woman, second Black person to be U.S. president
Kamala Harris could become the first Black woman to head a major U.S. party presidential ticket after U.S. President Joe Biden abruptly ended his re-election bid and endorsed her.
Joy in Newfoundland after 'Lucky 7' fishers survive harrowing days lost at sea
There was a powerful word being repeated in the joyful Newfoundland community of New-Wes-Valley on Sunday: 'Miracle.'
Here are the signs you're ready to downsize your home
Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many Canadians are looking to find ways to save money, such as downsizing their home. But one Ottawa broker says there are several signs to consider before making the big decision.
A 12-year-old girl is accused of smothering her younger cousin over an iPhone
A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee has been charged with murder, accused of smothering her eight-year-old cousin as the younger girl slept. A relative said they had been arguing over an iPhone.
Trudeau and family head to British Columbia for vacation in unnamed location
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1.
Read Biden's full text announcing the end to his re-election campaign
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump. He announced his decision in a letter posted on social media. Read the full text.
Even if your kids roll their eyes, keep making jokes, research says
Researchers surveyed about 300 people about their experiences being raised with or without humour and their views on their childhood, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One.