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A bridge in Châteauguay, Que., was closed to traffic Wednesday after a large hole formed, with asphalt and other debris falling to the frozen river below.
The city first announced the complete and indefinite closure of the Sauvagine Bridge following what was described as a partial deck collapse earlier in the morning.
Later, Quebec’s Transport Ministry said a contraflow system (one lane in each direction) will be initiated on the eastbound, which remains safe. The Sauvagine Bridge is a reinforced concrete beam bridge built in 1963.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Châteauguay Mayor Eric Allard addressed the safety concerns about the aging infrastructure — reminding his constituents that the bridge is the responsibility of Quebec’s Transport Ministry and is subject to regular inspections
“That said, I sincerely hope that today’s event will accelerate the steps already underway at the ministry so that the bridge can be completely rebuilt as quickly as possible,” wrote Allard. “Our community deserves reliable and sustainable infrastructure.”
The city confirmed that the bridge is now closed in both directions as a preventive measure. Officials also confirmed there were no injuries.
The hole in Châteauguay’s Sauvagine Bridge goes all the way through the deck. (Eric Allard/Facebook)
The city says it has notified the relevant provincial authorities and is waiting for further updates on the structural integrity of the span.
Residents are urged to plan for significant delays and to monitor official channels for detour information. The bridge is one of only a handful of ways for drivers to cross the Châteauguay River in the city.
Martin Girard, a spokesperson for the Transport Ministry, said in an email that inspectors are on site, assessing the situation after first closing the westbound direction of the bridge which is located on Saint-Bernard Road.
“Emergency work will begin tonight to carry out the necessary repairs,” Girard said. “The ministry’s objective is to safely reopen the structure as quickly as possible.”
The last general inspection of the damaged structure took place on Sept. 5, 2024, and another one is scheduled for this year, he added.
The ministry is preparing for the reconstruction of both structures of the Sauvagine Bridge and that project is currently at the preliminary planning stage. The project is slated to begin in 2028.
The bridge has three lanes (two eastbound and one westbound). The annual average daily traffic is 6,000 vehicles, five per cent of which are trucks.