The Samuel de Champlain Bridge in Montreal, Quebec is a 3.4 km, six lane high-level bridge with a dedicated two lane transit corridor that is currently being retrofitted to accommodate the Réseau Express Metropolitan light rail transit system. A 4 m wide multi-use path with scenic lookouts at strategic locations provides active transportation options for the public. The bridge crosses the St. Lawrence River and connects the City of Montreal to the City of Brossard on the south shore. The 240m long cable-stayed main span crosses 45m above the St. Lawrence Seaway, the inland waterway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The project also includes widening and upgrading of approximately 5 km of the A10 and A15 autoroutes and four interchanges along the corridor.
Through a public-private partnership between the Government of Canada and Signature on the Saint-Lawrence, the project originally consisted of the design, construction, financing, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of a new bridge spanning the St. Lawrence River and associated road ways. The bridge opened to traffic in summer 2019 and the concession runs until 2049. The asset is classified as availability-based under the investment policy of the Company. Availability payments are received from the Government of Canada, which is rated AAA by both Moody’s and S&P credit rating agencies.
As one of the largest transportation infrastructure projects in North America, it is vital to the economic growth of Quebec and Canada. The project brought over CAD$2.5 billion in construction-related activity to the area. Over 40 million vehicles use the bridge each year. The route is an important corridor for local residents as well as a major trade route to the United States of America. The Samuel De Champlain Bridge is considered critical transportation infrastructure and has been designed for a 125-year design life. It replaces the aging Champlain Bridge which had exceeded its useful life.
BBGI is proud to partner with SNC-Lavalin Capital, ACS Infrastructure and Infrastructure Canada on this iconic PPP project.