Peter Black

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Peterblack@qctonline.com

A deal is imminent for the federal government to buy the Quebec Bridge, ending a dispute dating back at least 30 years.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez told reporters after an Oct. 20 meeting in Quebec City with his Quebec counterpart, Geneviève Guilbault, “We are coming to the final conclusions” in negotiations with the province and Canadian National Railways, which has owned the historic span since 1993.

Ottawa appointed retired insurance executive Yvon Charest to head negotiations in August 2019, and in April 2021, the federal government announced its intention to buy back the bridge. What remained to be determined is how much Quebec would pay for rent and upkeep of its highway on the bridge, and how much CN would settle for as a purchase price.

In 2005, CN halted the painting of the bridge about one-third of the way into the job. The cost of painting the bridge is prohibitive, it being the longest clear-span cantilever-style bridge in the world, containing eight times more steel than the Eiffel Tower.

Rodriguez said, “We are refining the last details. It’s because we’re buying the bridge. We are investing significantly in painting and something else too because Quebec deserves to have a beautiful bridge.”

The minister said he met with the CEO of CN last week. He said the two had a long meeting, where “we discussed, for the most part, the bridge. There are announcements that will be coming soon.”

The Quebec Bridge opened in 1917 after two deadly collapses during construction delayed its completion. On average, 33,000 vehicles and 6,000 public transit riders cross the bridge each day.

Transport Quebec is undertaking major repair work on the bridge that will create congestion for the next few months. The span was completely closed overnight on Oct. 22 and 23.