The Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, has announced a contribution agreement of nearly $15 million over three years with CN to carry out rehabilitation work needed to maintain the Victoria Bridge’s safety and improve access for road vehicles.
“Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to support infrastructure projects, such as the rehabilitation of the Victoria Bridge, to support and promote economic growth,” said Alghabra.
The Victoria Bridge is a strategic link between Montréal and the South Shore, connecting the city directly to the city of Saint-Lambert. The project aims to repair structural elements of the roadway portion of the bridge and to optimize road signage.
“By supporting the rehabilitation work on the Victoria Bridge, which is a strategic link between Montréal and Saint Lambert, we’re helping to create quality jobs and drive the economic recovery,” said Marc Miller, Member of Parliament, Ville-Marie–Le Sud-Ouest–Île-des-Sœurs.
Originally built as a railway bridge in 1854, the Victoria Bridge was adapted in 1898 to accommodate road traffic. CN owns and operates the bridge.
“We are very pleased to be working with the Government of Canada on this important investment,” said Sean Finn, executive vice-president of corporate services, and chief legal officer, CN. “The Victoria Bridge was the first bridge to connect Montreal and the South shore and remains a critical trade-enabling infrastructure that facilitates the flow of goods and commuters and it is an essential link in the North American economy. Safety is a core value at CN, and this investment will help ensure the longevity of the road portion of the bridge.”
Operation of the bridge for vehicle traffic is maintained under an agreement between CN and Transport Canada. Since it is principally a railway bridge, which comes under federal jurisdiction, traffic on the bridge is governed by federal regulations.