As Transport Quebec continues to officially evaluate whether it will reopen a third lane in the direction of rush-hour traffic on the Île aux Tourtes Bridge after abruptly closing it last Friday as a new crack on the eastbound side of the span was discovered, a department spokesperson yesterday warned that more lanes could be closed.

“It cannot be ruled out that other traffic lanes may have to be closed,” said Transport department spokesperson Sarah Bensadoun in response to questions from The 1019 Report.

The discovery of the crack last Friday was made after regular inspections that followed the first freezing and thawing cycle of the season.

The closure means there are now only two lanes open in both directions on the span, down from the regular three.

Although Bensadoun said yesterday morning the situation remains unchanged, she warned more drastic closures could be in the offing that could lead to more traffic mayhem.

Commuters who regularly use the bridge suffered through months of traffic delays this year, as the bridge was narrowed to two lanes in each direction in December of 2022 to accommodate ongoing work on the span. At that time, Transport officials said a third lane would reopen in spring. That timeline, however, kept being pushed back until last month, when a third lane was finally opened.

Bensadoun said yesterday that it is not known when Transport officials will address next steps in light of the new crack that has been discovered.

Last Friday, the Transport department stated: “Traffic on the bridge remains safe and that in the case of doubt, the ministry will not hesitate to close the structure.”

The cost of the ongoing work on the aging structure has now been pegged at $376.7 million. That figure includes the nearly $176 million spent before the beginning of this year on safety and repairs of the two-kilometre bridge. The earlier work, carried out from 2020 to 2022, include reinforcement of the bridge supports, replacement of the central mall and relocation of the lighting.

The latest $43.7-million contract was awarded to carry out work that will continue into 2025, which includes beam and slab repairs, installation of a waterproofing membrane, asphalt replacement and other related work.

Transport Quebec in January of this year confirmed that the bridge will never fully reopen. Work will continue until the new span is put into service at the end of 2026.